Out bound training (OBT) has become the new trend in the Sri Lankan corporate sector. Many of us Sri Lanka’s have the notion that the activities that are carried-out on an outbound training are a stupid waste of time, but reality is that it is an invaluable experience. Our company went on a three day outbound training (OBT) recently. I was optimistic and eager to go from the beginning as it was going to be a whole new experience for me. However, many pessimistic colleagues went on the training as though a bull were dragged to a slaughter house, because the company stipulated that participation was compulsory.
We had various activities which were aimed to bring out key areas such as Team work, trust, strategic thinking, leadership, responsibility etc. We were taken white-water rafting and also participated in an adventure trek which was competitive and challenging but at the same time it was enjoyable.There where also less physical activities which involved strategic thinking. In addition there were also trust building activities like trust falls, where you had to fall backwards off from a ladder and trust your colleagues to catch you. However trust falls weren’t very successful with people who where scared of heights like me, because FEAR washes over you and you tend to get totally disoriented. Nevertheless I am happy that I attempted it.
Well, all these actives were far from easy at times as all of us had our own strengths and weaknesses but it was lifetime experience by itself. OBT gave us a more positive outlook to life. It pushed us to our limits and helped us identify the physical & mental weaknesses (eg: Fear) that we possessed. Most of all it brought us all together as one family and built-up an interpersonal relationship, trust and confidence among each other.
What do you think about OBT?
Comments
It shows how u can bring together ideas, which u might not do in the workplace.
It teaches you alot about people and about yourself as well. Hopw you had a great OBT.
Hey Parthi, I have never heard that school children too are taken on OBTs but I guess there is no different coz the OBT can be used to achieve the same purpose.
IMO, outbound training should not be on a weekend - boy or, boy i look forward to the weekend to do what i love to do. So would not appreciate been forced to give it up (but if its once in a few months, then i would probably not mind it :)
You bet its time for something new but I have been swamped with work for the past few weeks that I haven’t got a chance to sit down and gather my thoughts to write up a new post.
But, now that you reminded me I shall aim at posting something new, sometime this week.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Btw do you have a blog of your own? If you do I would love to have the URL if it’s ok with you.
I better get to work now. Tc
take care...will be visiting again, soon...
Your note on the experience you had excellent!
The factors behind this method gaining popularity among companies is the enjoyable nature of the activities, and the inputs of the participants themselves leading to development.
I enjoyed reading your post. Its is kind of the view from the other side of the fence. I conduct outbound training programmes regularly, and it is the first participant perspective I have found that is totally voluntary and speaks of learning, rather than only activity. Kudos to you. This perspective will keep you evolving and transforming yourself.
I do a lot of outbounds with school children, and they are pretty similar to the corporate outbounds. They key difference is that they are less focused on concepts, and more on the experience. In my opinion, it is actually better, but I guess corporate clients can't do without their dose of gyan.
The key to the learning experience is in immersing yourself in it, and learning to see beyond the sensation to focusing on sensations in us - feelings, emotions..... which I see you doing as you talk about the trust fall.
Cheers! I am happy I found your blog.
Vidyut
"You work as a team to gain synergy, NOT because you actualy should love the other team members gutts."
I don't understand what you are trying to say here. How do you gain synergy without appreciating another's courage? I see it as very difficult to gain any kind of "synergy" until we are able to "get over ourselves" and how fabulous we are, because until we are able, we are not able to see another's qualities without comparison (however irrelevant) with ourselves and a need to seem better.
Once that happens, we automatically begin to appreciate those around us for whatever they are - superman or nerd. It all takes courage of different kinds and we only learn to recognize it. What you call "gutts", I see as the very fabric of life and worth loving in the people around me.
For example, I could see you as a person who is making a value judgment here. OR, I could see you as I do - a person speaking straight from his perspective - and having a point to contribute. Without loving your guts, I could go on a useless (to all) tangent about how you're "talking nonsense". Because I love them, I see that you are bringing up a perspective that I have a take worth sharing on, and both our perspectives need not destroy each other and can both be available for people to build on...
My first OBT ever was a great experience that I have ever had. I have taken part in wild life research camps, nature conservation activities and Birding camps many times before, which gave lot of chance for employing my team skills. Yet it was the first time that I went through a realistic training on such skill. It really spoke to the point. Not only that, it really pinched my thinking pattern. It opened my eyes on how unconscious we are about our surrounding and people, how poor observers we are and what a little we experience from all what happen around us.
It's great. I'm really thankful to Kent Ridge,Sri Lanka, our trainer and Post Graduate(CPM)unit of University of Moratuwa.
ChearfulD
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Keep sharing