• Duration: 1 to 4 days
• This is our standard training program which uses a number of adventure activities and problem solving tasks to help foster pre determined goals and objectives, such as team work, communication skills and trust.

• Duration: 2 to 4 days, Number of participants: 7-15
• Moves away from imaginary games and initiatives, and into the realm of real learning. The concept is simple; real challenges, real people, real learning.

• Duration: 3 days, 2 nights (1/2 day in Colombo , plus a 2 day follow-up in Colombo ), Number of participants: 10-20
• Focuses on giving a team of trainers the unique skills necessary to run in-house training courses for their organization. Staff are challenged and encouraged through feedback and reflection to develop judgment and sound operating practices.

• Duration: 1 to 5 hours, Number of participants: 10-300
• A program used in conjunction with conferences. Programs incorporate games and other initiatives within a session aimed at energizing and motivating your team.

• Duration: 1 to 2 days, Number of participants: 10 and above
• A one day program, offering a day of trekking, picnics and rafting, followed by dinner, music and games round a bonfire, providing staff with

• Duration: ½ to 1 day, Number of participants: 10 and above
• Includes games and initiatives, offering trekking, picnics and rafting, followed by dinner, music and games round a bonfire. Provides staff with the opportunity to bond in a fun-filled, relaxing way.

• Duration: 2 to 5 days, Number of participants: 10-30
• A river trip which encourages all members to be as involved as possible, including setting up tents and cooking, allowing lessons and experiences gained to provide insights for application at work.

Our programs are designed to address the following themes:

• Energizing individuals, teams and divisions
• Building trust
• Developing support mechanisms
• Developing problem solving skills and strategies
• Cross-cultural interaction
• Developing high performance teams
• Leadership and other team roles
• Improving communication and listening skills
• Nurturing tolerance and facilitating conflict resolution
• Stress management
• Creating an environment conducive to risk taking
• Appreciating the wildlife, natural and human environment

Popular Themes in Professional Development

Managing change

How do we manage in a constantly changing business environment? Business aligned change affects everybody and the ability to manage the uncertainty with innovative and creative management strategies is vitally important. Our courses use several complex problem solving scenarios to help people and teams devise strategies for coping with the new challenges often inherent with change. Operating outside your ‘comfort zone' and ‘thinking outside the box' are buzz words often associated with change, we ask that you approach the exercises with an open mind and a willingness to learn – we believe that the new goals and objectives brought about by change can be truly inspirational and open peoples minds to new possibilities. The organisations best equipped to foresee and cope with change are those where the personnel have a common understanding and a good insight into the beliefs and culture of the organisation. This fosters strong support and a holistic approach to devising new management strategies in the face of change.

Developing high performance teams

Teams have to deal with two big issues, achieving their task and the group process . Without careful management of the group process the value of the group can be diminished. True group cohesion and teamwork develops as people work together in an environment of full trust and support. High performance teams exhibit ‘synergy', where the worth of the team far exceeds the collective worth of its individuals. Good facilitation can help accelerate team development towards synergy. External facilitation can draw the team's attention to the group process and suggest structures and practices to support and enhance team skills. Beginning with directed facilitation our aim is to nurture within the team a ‘collective responsibility for the group process.' Back in the work place, facilitation will then be performed by every team member equally and constantly. The team can become ‘unconsciously competent' regarding the group process and devote more energy to achieving the task. Our programs help develop the main characteristics of high performance teams (i.e. participative leadership, responsiveness, aligned on purpose, communicative, task focused, problem solving, shared responsibility, innovative) to empower your departmental or cross-functional teams.

We can also help well established teams recognise any ‘engrained behaviours and attitudes' that may be hampering performance and/or stimulate new approaches. External facilitation can help bring negative issues to the surface where the team can critically assess them and/or build upon the strengths already apparent in the team.

Empowering Individuals

Facing and overcoming new challenges in a safe and beautiful environment can empower individuals. Our exercises allow people to experiment away from the pitfalls and risks associated with making decisions in the corporate world. Team members are encouraged to try different team roles so they can build up an appreciation and more rounded understanding of the group process. Trust operates at many different levels. There's trust in the team but equally important is the trust found within oneself – the personal confidence and assertiveness needed to achieve a task for the benefit of the team. Course participants can walk away with their heads held high!

Developing Managers

Managers rely on a wide range of skills to keep organisations competitive in today's global business environment. We realise ‘management' involves planning, prioritising, problem solving, managing resources, organizing, leading and co-ordinating activities, managing diversity and cultural change. We are also aware that leadership skills are very important – establishing visions and goals, communicating the visions and goals, guiding others to accomplish them. Management should be facilitative, participative and inspirational. That is why we have tailored courses that address all these skills and help your people practice them.

Developing Leaders

Although debates rage on it is still difficult to separate management from leadership. At Borderlands we don't believe the age old argument that ‘leaders are born and cannot be made'. We are far more interested in how good leaders deliver goals and objectives and what strategies they use to obtain success. Away from corporate pressures we can help your leadership community identify their preferred style, to understand leadership principles and draw parallels with the corporate world so they can apply them back in the work place. We can also encourage and discuss the use of different leadership styles and approaches that may prove beneficial.