Strategic Transformational Training Methodology
Robin Paul and Timmy Connors from Breakthrough, participated in a three day Program on Strategic Transformational Training Methodology organized by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, which featured the Strategic Development of managerial capability being the key element in strategic survival and growth.
The program focused on developing a methodology for putting together strategic transformational training by examining pre-training, through training and post-training variables and addressed the following:
• Criteria for identifying partner organizations/trainers for delivering training
• The importance of pre-training diagnostics for capturing organizational felt and unfelt needs to steer the design and delivery as close to the reality confronting managers in fulfilling roles and responsibilities and in producing the desired results
• Review of various approaches to gaining training organization/ trainer sensitization to the client organization’s ecosystem
• Identifying ingredients of training content design which can be reconfigured into various permutations and combinations to produce the desired learning impact from a strategic transformational perspective
• Gaining an understanding of premium training delivery ingredients to enhance training engagement value for participant development as well as to achieve the strategic transformational purpose of the delivery in an integrated flow of the content
• A comprehensive framework for assessing training impact
• A methodology for assessing long term impact and long haul achievement both at the individual level as well as at the organizational level
Breakthrough @Camp Revive the first Outbound training and Camp Centre inaugurated in Hosur
Breakthrough, in partnership with Esther Enterprises, a renowned property development firm inaugurated an Outbound training and camp centre called Breakthrough @Camp Revive in Hosur.
Krish Dhanam, Global Ambassador, Ziglar Group was part of the inaugural event and addressed members of the NHRD, Hosur Chapter and Junior Chamber International on the topic “The Art of Top Performance”. This was based on the book “Top Performance” by Zig Ziglar which he had co-authored. It was a fitting topic to the inauguration of the centre that will strive to bring the best from teams in corporates, colleges, schools and NGOs.
Hosur is the third Breakthrough centre to be opened. The centre houses challenge courses including Low ropes and a High ropes course and camping facilities which will be used for Outbound training for corporates, colleges, schools and NGO’s. Speaking on the inauguration, Robin Paul, CEO, Breakthrough said “We are excited in entering into the Hosur market. We hope Breakthrough @ camp revive will open doors for corporates, colleges, schools and other groups to experience Outbound training and camping in a fun and impactful way”.
Camping which is also a key focus of the facility includes a variety of outdoor games like football, Volley ball, paint ball, along with an amphi-theatre and other camping facilities. Speaking on the opening, Francis Selvaraj, CEO, Esther Enterprises, said “The project began with a vision to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to build character through sports and to be better citizens of our nation. We hope to give opportunities for people to revive, rejoice and rejuvenate”
Breakthrough @Camp Revive will promote a balanced lifestyle at a time when 24/7 work places have invaded the Indian Economic Scene. Due to target oriented work places, people in general have slipped into a highly depressed and inactive lifestyle. Hence, everybody needs a Revival mentally and physically.
The Vision of Impacting Lives
Breakthrough’s vision is impacting lives. This vision guides us in our recruitment, facilitation, relationships, and even in our day-to-day decision-making. Outbound training is the means for us to impact lives. The stories of impact that we hear from our participants are what keeps us going day after day.
We believe a warm smile translates to create many more smiles. Hence, we practice welcoming each participant with a smile and sweets.
We strive to have one-on-one conversations with participants which build lasting relationships. Appreciating participants for each step of involvement during activities is where our ‘connect’ begins when we observe and appreciate.
In addition, to corporate organizations and educational institutions, we deem it a privilege to impact the lives of the underprivileged and the differently-abled. This brings us joy that cannot be expressed in words but etched in our memories as days we cherish.
We have seen lives been impacted since 2000. College students have given up drugs to focus on what is most important in life. School children have built their confidence and have grown to be leaders. Corporate organizations have transformed their culture and built teams that work together guided by organizational values and objectives. This is what the Breakthrough team works towards each day, one life and one team at a time. We hope to build that impact in the coming years spreading across the country and abroad.
Breakthrough approved for Podio Sponsorship.
Breakthrough thanks www.podio.com for sponsoring us and enhancing the way business at Breakthrough works by giving us easy access to your premium features.
How Podio is making work easy and productive for team Breakthrough.
Podio definitely is the best web-based management platform we’ve come across so far. It offers anything you would expect from a Project management tool. It has helped us a great deal in streamlining and tracking important tasks and processes like approvals, discussions, and projects while keeping our internal business information secure and preventing things from falling in the cracks. The interface is particularly clean and visually appealing.
Its ability to define workspace with its own set of collaborators and functionalities is particularly valuable to get things done. Podio is also a great tool to share ideas within teams and collect feedback.
Worth mentioning that an impressive amount of apps is available on the Podio app store, which makes Podio even more useful and collaborative.
In all the Breakthrough team is all excited about it and we are sure your team will love to use it also.
The Value of Ethical Leadership
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| Competency Iceberg Model (Spencer & Spencer, 1993) |
The word ‘ethics’ in the business world in India has become increasingly important with leaders from large corporations being seen following short of set societal standards. Studies done by Den Hartog and De Hoogh, 2009 have shown the impact of Ethical leadership on Leadership effectiveness. The impact further trickles down to the rest of the employees in organizations, wherein employees are stimulated to display ethical behaviors. Ethical Leadership is also positively correlated with job satisfaction. Since, ethical leadership in organization involves a number a behaviors researchers have chosen a few behaviors such as transparency, fairness, integrity, role sharing and role clarification in their research.
The Centre for Ethical Leadership, USA defines “Ethical leadership, as knowing your core values and having the courage to live them in all parts of your life in service of the common good.” As individuals core values are based on either religious, cultural or individual orientation. Personal ethics may differ from person to person however, a few behaviours are widely accepted norms.
As the above definition mentions, the difficulty for most people is to have the courage to display ethical behavior when societal or organizational cultures are different. The value in ethical leadership is the legacy one lives and leaves behind for people they interact and work with.
Ethical character and values are focused largely in training programs held at Breakthrough. Just as the Competency Iceberg model (Spencer & Spencer, 1993) suggests, the part of the iceberg that sinks the ship is the part underneath. Similarly, the aspects within a person, like his values and character is what will help one grow or drag one down.
First Aid Training for the Breakthrough Team
Safety is one the core operating values of Breakthrough and we have focused extensively on certifications and training programs for the team and the organization to maintain high safety standards. Breakthrough is also the first Outbound training organization to be certified in the Occupational Health and Safety management system, OHSAS 18001: 2007. It was recently certified in the quality management system ISO 9001: 2008.
Recently, a first aid training workshop was conducted for the team at Breakthrough. A few members have already been certified in first aid. It was a refresher to all the facilitators from both the Bangalore and Coimbatore centers on various aspects of First Aid like CPR, handling injuries, burns, shock etc.
The program was conducted by the Indian Red Cross Society. First aid is an important safety practice for organizations to have in place. The team at Breakthrough would like to ensure safety for all visiting our campuses and in the society, practicing the Breakthrough policy of SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY LAST and SAFETY INBETWEEN.
Celebrating Women’s Day through experiential learning activities at Breakthrough
Breakthrough, organized a special Women’s day event “Lean-In circle” participated by women from a number of organizations like VMware, Tesco, William Penn and SAP. The program was based on the book, ‘Lean-In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead’, written by Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook. Some of the key aspects of Lean-In like having a growth mindset, taking initiatives, and the power of peers were brought alive through the experiential learning activities. One of the powerful questions discussed was “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” quoted by Spencer Johnson, also mentioned in the book.
Sharon Andrew, Happiness Evangelist, Happiest Minds and Jayashree Augustine, Executive Assistant to MD, Britannia Industries shared their perspective of the need to Lean-In with the women present. Speaking about the experience at Breakthrough, Ridha Tazeen, Sr. Manager – HR, William Penn said “Apart from the various other reasons that I’m proud to be a woman. I feel blessed today because of this program which was planned for us“.
The vision of Breakthrough is to impact lives. Each part of the program was carefully designed to bring the impact. At the end of the event, the women were encouraged to create and be part of Lean-In circles which are peers groups which meet regularly to share and learn together. There was a surprise offer in-store for the women at the end of the program. Each participant was given one-year of free access to on-line business study materials sponsored by ‘My B-Skool’ which is a Chennai based On-line B-School.
Breakthrough, becomes the first Outbound training service provider in India to be certified in OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 9001:2008
Breakthrough, has announced its certification in the safety management system, OHSAS 18001:2007 and quality management system, ISO 9001:2008. It is the only Outbound Training center in India to be certified in OHSAS 18001:2007 standard and this is the second term for which the certification has been renewed. The standards are widely seen as the world’s most recognized Management Systems standards.
The scope of the certification includes the design and delivery of training programs for corporate organizations, educational institutions and others. OHSAS 18001:2007 certified by Global Safety Services specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System. ISO 9001: 2008 calls for a stringent quality management process. Timothy Connors, Program Director and Vivian Angelo, Centre Director, Coimbatore from Breakthrough are one of the few practitioners in India to be awarded with Level 1 and 2 Inspector and Supervisor Endorsement by the Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT).
Commenting on the certification Robin Paul, CEO, Breakthrough said, “Safety and Excellence is the core value of Breakthrough. The certifications reinstate our dedication to enhancing safety methods and internal controls. It signifies our commitment to the security of our employees, clients and service providers and reaffirms our position as an industry leader”.
Breakthrough being one of the pioneers using ropes courses in Outbound Training for more than a decade, underwent a comprehensive audit of its processes. OHSAS: 18001 enables organizations to have control over and knowledge of all relevant hazardous situations, and improve its performance.
To be certified in ISO 9001: 2008 Breakthrough demonstrated its ability to consistently meets applicable statutory and regulatory requirements of customers, and enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system. Through such certifications Breakthrough consistently strives to meet industry demands and develop processes of excellence.
Studies: Adventure Education / Outbound programmes foster resilience
In the changing business world, Resilience as a characteristic is considered an essential element. So much so, that the 2013 World Economic Forum was titled “Resilient Dynamism”. Building this characteristic cannot be done by a mere presentation alone but involves being able to learn it in an experiential platform.
A study done in December 2013 by the Unversity of Otago in New Zealand proved that adventure programs foster youth resilience. When participants undergo such programs it results in a certain immunization and an ability to overcome. This means the ability of people to face adversity grows after an adventure-based outbound training experience.
There are numerous such studies that prove that controlled exposure to challenges can enhance resilience. In the year 2001, James Neill and Katica Dias did a study that supported this claim, demonstrating significantly greater gains in psychological resilience for 41 young adults participating in 22-day Outward Bound programs.
Over the years Breakthrough has seen the effectiveness of adventure-based Outbound training programs that have enabled participants from corporates and colleges to foster key characteristics like resilience. Using lead-up activities physically and emotionally prepare participants for the difficult activity that they will experience. The methodology is effective because of the experiential base that has been proven factual through similar studies.