Raka and I were off again. This time on a training programme for Capgeminii. Dr. Dilip Panniker - one of our favourite outbound facilitators was conducting an indoor training programme for them, and wanted to introduce them to the power of Outbound training activities. Since this was more of an introduction than an actual programme, it was just the two of us going to conduct some very basic activities.
Luggage was light, and the spirit of adventure took over. We decided to go to Manor on bike. The monsoon season, the heavenly atmosphere and both of us together, alone on the road again.
We started off around 5am and hit the Mumbai - Ahmedabad highway. Surprisingly, while a lot of petrol pumps were open to fuel up, NONE of them offered air for the tyres - strange! I guess they don’t offer air round the clock since its free 
Just mentioning here, as if there is a Hindustan Petroleum or Bharat Petroleum guy reading this, it might be a PR exercise worth investing in. Anyway, coming back on track.
It was dark when we started, and the day began dawning around us, just as we got out of the city environment and among the natural beauty worth seeing. The countryside was lush green and the mist flirted with every hill it found as is the way of the monsoons in this region. Water fell from everywhere it could and it was the beginning of an ideal outing. It is incredible that we guys actually get paid for doing this stuff.
Reaching Manor, and the programme location at Silent Hills resort, we found it to be a really charming place. We were using Dilip’s room for the day, and it overlooked a charming courtyard with hammocks and the river beyond the fence in the backyard (well kind of). The area was spacious and perfect for group activities.
The group itself was a fun group, and while the outbound activities were really light, they turned out a good number of learnings for the group that they could apply in their practical lives. Dilip himself is a very capable and sensitive facilitator, and it was a superb learning experience for us as well.
A particularly memorable moment typical of Dilip happened in the discussions. When analysing performance and success/failure, there was a participant constantly speaking of trying to achieve. Dilip asked him to take off his cap. He did it. “Now put it on the floor and try to pick it up………….. no! DON’T pick it up. Try to pick it up!” It was an instant awakening into how we cushion our egos against the hurt of failure.
What is try to do something. It workd as an effort sure. But what is its place when you are analysing? Did you do it or not - is the bottom line. Once you have the courage and accept it as a yes or a no, you are in a better position to consider the whys.
Well this was a point when we all really laughed while we actually registered an important point, but there were lots of moments like these. What keeps these programmes refreshing each time is that while the activities are the same, the participants and companies they work for keep changing, and the performances, interactions, attitudes are all different, and like a new learning exercise for us as well with each time.
The programme done, we headed back home on our trusted bike, enjoying the ride every moment.
All said, a superb experience.
Leave a comment