Motivating Maltese-style

Motivation should be fun.

An obvious statement, one might think, and rightly so. However, this deceivingly simple concept hides an underlying truth which is at the core of any form of incentive – be it material, financial or travel-related. The reward must be pleasurable. If it’s going to work at all, whatever is offered as motivation must make the recipient ‘happy’.

Indeed, if motivation is the door to heightened performance, then happiness is the key.

Happiness is an elusive and abstract element. It is difficult to grasp and analyze, not least because it means different things to different people. Yet, there are those who insist that one can dissect happiness, measure it and even determine its relative presence on a geographic territory. Like other resources, they claim, happiness is not distributed equally across the globe and this explains why certain places are ‘happier’ than others.

And this brings us to Malta and the Maltese.

According to the World Database of Happiness, the Maltese people are the happiest people on earth. This emerged from a recent study conducted by Professor Ruut Veenhoven of Rotterdam's Erasmus University, in which 100,000 people in 90 countries were asked to rate, on a scale of 1-10, how happy they were. The residents of this tiny Mediterranean archipelago – who number around 400,000 – were found to have the highest ‘life happiness index’, with 74% of the population describing themselves as happy. Denmark came a close second and Switzerland placed an honourable third. (By comparison, the US ranked 16th and the UK a distant 21st).

Clearly, the Maltese must know something we don't. The good news is that they are eager to share their secret with whoever cares to visit their sun-blessed islands.

Situated at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has served as a staging post for trade and commerce since prehistory. Its strategic location meant that whoever wished to dominate the neighbourhood had to control the island. This explains why the history of Malta reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Civilisations… from the ancient Phoenicians and Romans, Arabs and Normans, to the multi-national Order of St John, Napoleon’s French and the mighty British Empire. This rich and varied past helped transform Malta from a barren outpost into a vibrant, multi-layered melting-pot of cultures: a legacy still visible today in its palaces, churches, streets and squares.

Long before it became a favourite with meeting planners and incentive organisers, Malta already catered for thousands of tourists who flock to its shores in search of relaxation and a perfect suntan. Over the past few decades a thriving hospitality sector developed, offering accommodation and leisure facilities of the highest standard. Today, Malta is established amongst the top choice destinations for corporate events and incentives in the region, with a growing reputation for excellent service and value.

What makes Malta special? Why are top companies sending their best and their brightest to these islands? Whilst there is no single answer to this question, some factors clearly come into play.

Ease of access, proximity to the UK and the continent (just 3hrs from London), ease of communication (everybody speaks English), safety (virtually zero crime), enviable climate and the cleanest sea in the Med, to mention but a few. Food to die for, shopping that’s reasonable, plenty of nightlife and the legendary hospitality of the locals, to mention a few more. Then there is all that fascinating history – not locked up behind glass cases in museums and galleries, but alive and practically everywhere.

Considering such ‘raw material’, it is hardly surprising that team-building and motivation events held in Malta are so successful. In the expert hands of experienced organisers, these become ingredients for a highly effective, memorable and above all, enjoyable exercise.

Foreign companies who choose to hold their event in Malta find a number of professional outfits to work with. But the local leader in the field of motivation events is undoubtedly a company called Outdoor Living. Part of the SYNERGIX GROUP – a trio of companies which also includes Synergix Events specialising in concept entertainment and The AV Warehouse which supplies audio visual support – Outdoor Living has earned a reputation for originality and reliability.

Over the years, Outdoor Living has developed a vast range of Team Challenges. These are designed to present a variety of teambuilding dynamics, with different levels of physicality and degrees of difficulty. The choice spans the entire spectrum of possibilities - from the most complex to the simplest – but with one common factor (or perhaps two): attention to detail and an emphasis on safety.

Outdoor Living is best known for its concept scenarios having a distinct local flavour. One of the most popular is the Medieval Games – a tournament which harks back to the times when chivalry reigned supreme. A series of period games are staged within the walls of authentic 16th century fortifications. Jousting, tug-of-war, bridge-building, archery, boules and horseshoe toss are a prelude to the ultimate challenge – the fearsome gauntlet.

True to its name, Outdoor Living specialises in open-air events that take advantage of Malta’s 300 days of sunshine and the natural beauty of its countryside and coastline. Picturesque beaches, lidos, theme parks and waterfront promenades, have been carefully selected to serve as venues, depending on the activity chosen, number of participants, climatic factors etc. Nothing is left to chance….

Whether the aim of the exercise is collaboration or competition, problem-solving or improved communication, Outdoor Living has the products, the equipment and the expertise to make it happen. Its catalogue includes popular team-bonding favourites such as ‘Build-A-Boat’ and ‘Auto Assembly Line’, fun-packed and original games with equally original names such as ‘Spider’s Web’ and ‘Pasta Bridge’ and GPS-aided orienteering challenges (held on foot, cycle, 4x4 or speedboat) such as ‘In The Grandmaster’s Footsteps’ and ‘Island Quest’.

Outdoor Living also specialises in adventure sports and can organise abseiling, rock climbing, aerial ropeway, trekking, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, mountain biking, jeep safaris and more.

Is Malta really the happiest place on earth? And, more importantly, is Malta’s ‘H-Factor’ contagious? All will be revealed to those who experience Motivation - Maltese style.