Outbound Learning Program
Bengaluru,
Karnataka – The students of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Bengaluru,
were taken to a an outbound learning centre for an "out of the classroom
experience."
DAY 1:
Three days into the MBA program and the
fresher batch (2013-2015) of SIBM-Bengaluru was asked to pack their bags again.
They were being taken to the outskirts of the city on a program known as Outbound
Learning Program (OBL). However, the "Learning" word was a misnomer.
So, if not learning, then what happened at
the camp? Read on to find out...
The students reached there after a
three hour long journey. It was an unending siesta of singing songs, shouting,
laughing & giggling. The bus suddenly stopped in the middle of nowhere and as
per the driver, their destination had arrived. Pegasus Institute, the location
of the camp, was nestled between hills, 30 kms away from Bengaluru. Travelling
through a rickety path, they all reached the gates.
Friendly looking faces welcomed them
with warm beverages. After the refreshments, they were escorted to their
temporary rooms-tents!! Post a brief introduction session, it was called a day
and people scattered. Groups were formed, games were played, and songs were
sung. For all 170 of them, the day had just begun.
DAY 2:
The next morning, after a hearty
breakfast, they all assembled in different areas where they were asked to
divide themselves into further groups which now became their teams. The teams
were then taken to the site of action.
Site 1,
activity 1.
Tall structures made of pillars stood there and the entire team had to cross
them without their feet touching the ground. Site 2, activity 2. Each team (a new one this time) consisting of
ten members was made to stand on three drums. Again, the entire team had to
reach the other side without falling on the ground. As you can guess, the team
that completed the task first would hoot, shout & scream. The competitive
spirit showed. There was a lot of cheering & roaring. But, in all the fun
& excitement, they had forgotten the main objective that was given to them:
not a single team, not two teams but all teams had to complete the task; only
then it would be labeled as finished.
Later, during lemonade breaks, they
were pointed out this mistake. Everybody slowly realized that in a very subtle
& sly way, they had been taught their first ever corporate lesson - put
your department above your team, and your team above yourself.
Site 3,
activity 3.
Now having understood the motive behind all this, everybody geared up for the
next activity. Ten people were made to stand on two planks-one left and one
right-and were asked to cross a path full of fake bombs without touching the
ground. People began moving, co-coordinating, shouting instructions, falling
and again moving. A few struggled, a few managed. But the end result was
different this time. Those finishing first helped the others as well. This time
everybody finished the task within the time limit.
The euphoria post the completion of
the task was prominent in the air. Hi-fives and pats on the back were
exchanged, names were now being remembered, friends were being made and
everyone had a glint of excitement in their eyes.
DAY 3:
The next day was again a plethora of
activities. Amidst all the fun were secret learnings - team work, managing self
& others, identifying glitches & solving them, achieving tasks etc. All
these boring corporate jargons had been translated into fun filled activities
which everyone was eager to take part in. Needless to say, there was 100%
attendance in all these classes.
Site 6, task
6. A
wooden A-frame (almost 7 feet tall) had been set up. One random person from
each team had to stand on the vertical line of the A and rest of the members
had to pull the frame forward with the ropes attached to it while ensuring that
the person on the frame does not fall. As this was the last activity,
coordination was at its best, people were managing everything with finesse. But
the Gods wanted something more. Suddenly, the skies opened up and rain started
pouring. The wooden frame became slippery, the ropes became wet & the mud
on the ground became a swamp. But, the teams were on an adrenaline rush. Nobody
wanted to stop. In fact, everyone started putting in double the effort. Everybody
was hard at work, huffing and panting, pushing the frame, not giving a damn to
the rain.
Nimisha Nasa, a
student from the junior batch says "I can never forget that moment. Rains
pouring. People hanging on the A-Frame. Others pushing the A-frame while making
sure that their team members don't fall. Shouting helpful comments to each
other. Motivating each other and finally, completing the task. I don't need to
elaborate on what we learned, what we achieved. It was there with us, in us.
And it will always stay with us. Lifelong."
Swetha R.K., another fresher says "We went there as strangers and we came back as a
family, a well bonded one. This classroom at Pegasus has been the most
memorable one."