Grahame Robb Associates - Using the outdoors

The effectiveness of any team (and the leadership within a team) depends on the extent to which team members are able to work together, understand each other and work cooperatively as people, so that they can set and deliver their goals as effectively as possible.

Teamwork and leadership is, therefore, vital in an organisation and the better it is, the more likely that the team will achieve its goals and deliver maximum performance.

In support of our team, leadership and management development programmes, GRA adopt a powerful experiential learning approach, using an outdoors-based series of activities which are educational, fun and give faster business results than other methods. Using the outdoors provides a highly challenging and stimulating environment within which to examine the fundamentals of working together as a team. In particular, it quickly allows the team to experience and learn about all the issues relating to risk-taking, creative problem solving, decision making, resource utilisation, handling conflict, leadership and measuring success. It will also provide you with the opportunity to see your own and others' skills develop in a new environment.

However, the real learning is not just related to 'outdoor adventure'; it develops through intensive review sessions, led by GRA consultants who will help you transfer the experience of the outdoor activities to the harsh realities and pressures of a business and commercial operation.

The programmes and exercises are designed to more quickly and effectively:

If you are considering taking your team outdoors, here are ten things to remember which will help you to have a safe and rewarding day.

1) Use a company that either comes recommended or that can provide references from two or three recent customers. Call these references for a first-hand account of their experience.
2) Ask to see the company’s Health & Safety policy and to be assured that everyone who works for them has been trained to follow it.
3) Check that the company carries adequate public liability and third party insurance - £5m is generally considered sufficient.
4) Ask about the technical qualifications of the staff and the date that these qualifications were last checked. In general, all qualifications should be from nationally recognised institutions and be sufficient for the type of activity to be undertaken.
5) Ensure that the company’s tutors are first aid qualified and that there is an emergency procedure. A medical questionnaire used at the start of an event helps to inform outdoor tutors of pre-existing conditions.
6) If driving is involved, moving your staff between exercises for example, check that the drivers are PCV qualified – the law requires this if the vehicle has more than 9 seats. The law also requires that the company should hold a Transport Operator’s licence and that the vehicle must be PSV registered. Most hired vehicles are not.
7) You should expect to be asked about your objectives and other requirements and to have these taken into account in the design of the event. Look for a well-balanced programme tailored to your team’s needs.
8) A rewarding outdoor experience requires more than having a safe and fun time. The activities must have a point and be related back to work. Ask how this will be accomplished.
9) There should be a plan, or timetable, of events so that you can see how the day will develop to meet your expectations.
10) Finally, most if not all costs should be fixed by the time you agree to a proposal. This should be in writing along with any payment and cancellation conditions.

This may seem like a long and somewhat worrying list - but no reputable supplier of outdoor team development will have a problem with meeting its demands. In ensuring that this is so, you will be virtually guaranteeing a safe, fun and rewarding day for your team and business.

Using the outdoors

Using the outdoors - top ten list