How our programmes make teams more collaborative and productive
Working seamlessly in teams is a must in any workplace, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
What makes working in a team or collaborating so difficult?
- The inability to strike the right balance between competition and collaboration, thereby hampering productivity
- “Leadership” is often misconstrued as having power over others instead of empowering others
- The purpose, timing, and content of traditional team building programs don’t always align with specific needs of teams
How our programmes make teams more collaborative and productive
Working seamlessly in teams is a must in any workplace, but it’s not as simple as it sounds.
What makes working in a team or collaborating so difficult?
- The inability to strike the right balance between competition and collaboration, thereby hampering productivity
- “Leadership” is often misconstrued as having power over others instead of empowering others
- The purpose, timing, and content of traditional team building programs don’t always align with specific needs of teams
We are increasingly noticing companies looking for outdoor programmes that:
- increase mutual trust between team members
- enhance their ability to work well in a team
- help teams communicate more effectively
- help teams solve problems consultatively and work cooperatively towards a common goal
For lack of a better term, it is commonly referred to as team building
About The Indiahikes Team Building Program
The Indiahikes Team Building Program shakes up and redefines previously-held notions about leadership, collaboration, teamwork, team dynamics, effective communication, and success.
Participants share a meaningful experience on a specially-designed trek in the Himalayas or hills close to the city. Teams work together in a challenging, unfamiliar environment towards a common goal.
Since 2016, we have had several reputed companies from a diverse cross-section trek with us. We have seen how they become a strongly bonded team in a short period of time.
A note of caution: This is not a light-hearted team outing. It is designed to bring out collaborative leadership skills and behaviours in all participants.
Testimonials
Nao Ito - Operating Partner, BeeNext
Benog Tibba
Shivaram - Team Manager, Palo Alto Networks
Channarayana Durga
Aditya Rao - Director, Supreem Pharmaceuticals
Channarayana Durga
Jai Santhoshi S - Bain and Company
Bananthimari Betta
Programs we run
Duration: 5 to 7 hours. This includes the time taken for team-building activities on the trek followed by reflections. The trek starts early in the morning and ends by lunchtime.
Locations:
Bangalore : Skandagiri, Makkalidurga, Harihara Betta, Kunagal Betta
Mussoorie : Benog Tibba
The duration can be customised to some extent according to the team's requirements.
Duration: 5-7 hours. This includes the time taken for team-building activities on the trek followed by reflections.
The teams are also involved in campsite activities since they spend one night camping in tents.
Locations:
Bangalore: Channarayana Durga
Mussoorie: Benog Tibba, Nag Tibba, Deoban
The duration can be customised to some extent according to the team's requirements.
Duration: 4 days with 3 nights of camping in the mountains.
Each day has a mix of trekking, camping, and activities followed by reflections.
Locations:
Uttarakhand: Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, Deoriatal Chandrashila
Himachal Pradesh: Chandrakhani Top, Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake
The duration can be customised to some extent according to the team's requirements.
How the Immersive Experience Works
Trek | Setting The Stage
Participants embark on an invigorating and challenging trek to the Himalayas or hills close to the city.
Activities | Coming Together for Collaboration
The entire expedition is broken down into carefully-designed learning activities with specific takeaways.
Reflections | Key to an immersive experience
Guided reflections with a trained facilitator enable teams to introspect and act on learnings.
What a 6-Day Himalayan Programme Looks Like
Treks that are most suitable for Company Team Building Programmes
The duration and difficulty of these treks make them conducive for a Team Building Programme. The trek fee will be worked out after considering the duration, arrangements required and the number of participants
Some questions you may have
As of now, we have four treks that lend themselves very well to the programme. They are Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, Brahmatal and Ali-Bedni Bugyal treks. All four of them go up to an altitude of about 12,500 feet, cresting in a summit. The treks are spectacular as well as safe for young professionals and students who haven't trekked in the high altitude.
The fee is Rs 3000 more than the usual trek fee. This includes all expenses, per participant, from basecamp to basecamp. All other services, such as transport and stay before and after the programme, will be charged as actuals.
Inclusions
- Accommodation during the trek (camping – 3 per tent)
- All meals – vegetarian
- Trekking permits and forest camping charges
- Trekking equipment (tents, sleeping bags, ice axes, ropes, etc.)
- Safety equipment (first aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretchers, etc.)
- Services of an expert trek leader (qualified in basic/advanced mountaineering courses)
- Services of a support team (volunteers, guides, cooks, helpers, porters/mules)
- Expert facilitation team from Indiahikes
Exclusions
- Food during transit to and from the base camp.
On the trek there is no electricity and the mobile network is hardly available. The last point for charging your mobiles and cameras is usually at the base camp.
You will be camping in Hillman Expedition tents. These are custom-made all-weather tents that will be your shelter on the days of your trek.
These are spacious expedition dome tents that can accommodate three team members.
At Indiahikes, we have a robust system to prepare all participants before the Team Building Programme begins. We guide you step by step starting a month and a half before your trek. We get you ready in terms of fitness as well as gear.
Pre Trek Approximate Preparation Guide
Fitness: By the time participants leave for the trek they must be able to jog 5 km in 42 minutes.
Those with a BMI of 30 and above need to get it below 30 before the trek starts. Blood pressure readings need to be in the normal range as well.
Trek Gear: Participants will have to get all the gear they require well in advance. They can opt for renting gears to avoid spending too much on their first trek experience. However, renting gears must be done 30 days in advance as stocks don’t last.
Yes. We regularly announce Team Building Programmes on our website. If you would like to be contacted regarding this please fill in the inquiry form or send us an email to prathima@indiahikes.com and we will inform you about the same as well.
We usually run a Team Building Programmes when we have 20-30 participants interested in doing it. So do drop us a line and we will loop you in!
At Indiahikes, it is our firm conviction that trekking has the potential to bring about a transformative change in an individual's life. As a result, we devote significant resources towards curating exceptional experiences for our trekkers.
In line with our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our trekkers, we have a strict policy against smoking and alcohol consumption during the treks. It is imperative to note that smoking and alcohol can prove to be hazardous at high altitudes. Therefore, we expect all trekkers, including those who smoke, to abstain from these activities during the trek.
It is important to reiterate that any individual found smoking, drinking, or in possession of alcohol during the trek will be escorted back to the basecamp. This policy is non-negotiable, and we request all trekkers
This is an intensive multi-day programme with sharp objectives. It aims to bring in life-long transformations.
So consequences that you may face for not working cohesively as a team are tangible and not just simulated. It is important to note that this is markedly different from usual offsite experiences that may occur in a controlled environment. In this case, all participants will find themselves operating outside of their comfort zone, in an unfamiliar environment, without the safety net of a "bubble" that exists in typical offsites.
Due to its design and setting, the learning that working professionals gain from this experience stays with them for a lifetime. These bring out changes that bring about a lasting impact on personal and professional growth.
How We Keep All Participants Safe
Indiahikes Safety Mechanism
Outside the facilitators, their fellow members, our Trek Leaders play a pivotal role in keeping all participants safe on the trek. It is not easy to be a Trek Leader with Indiahikes. There is a long, stringent, and difficult selection process.
After this they undergo a rigorous 8 month induction and training programme before they are certified as Trek Leaders at Indiahikes. Only those Trek Leaders who are the best of our team are selected to lead the Himalayan Mountain Challenge.
All our Trek Leaders are certified mountaineers with a Basic Mountaineering Course or Advanced Mountaineering Course. Among them, the ones who are Wilderness First Responders (NOLS-certified) are assigned to lead all participants.
Apart from the Trek Leaders we have technical guides, trek guides, programme facilitators and assistants who accompany all team members of the Team Building Programme. All of them are given specialised training in handling emergency mountain situations. If a situation arises, anyone of our team members will be able to evacuate the team members to safety, even in the middle of the night.
Ultimately, even an expert team such as ours cannot keep all participants safe unless they follow stringent safety processes. These are processes that have been developed by us for over ten years. They have been put in place after considering every scenario and evaluating every risk of a trek.
Our risk assessment and management systems are extensive and deep, as you will discover when you sign up with us. There is a process for preparing team members, a process to monitor their health 3 times a day, a process for management of accidents, a process for managing altitude sickness, a process for evacuation. There are processes for even trekking and a separate process for difficult sections. Any potential risk is nipped in the bud.
Our extensive trek experience matters here. The trekking trails are not new to us. These trekking trails have been nurtured and developed by us for many years. We have our own base camps on these trails.
From the time the programme starts till it ends, safety of all team members is our responsibility.
On the trek, we have a staff-to-team member ratio of 1:10. This means for every 5 team members there is an Indiahikes staff monitoring them closely.
Most of the modern safety equipment used in the Indian trekking community has been introduced by us. This has fundamentally changed how trekking is done in our country.
In all of our treks, we carry a high-altitude medical kit, an evacuation kit, a technical kit, radio equipment, and oxygen cylinders (pulse oximeters and BP monitors are standard equipment carried by our Trek Leaders, including ropes and carabiners).
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Team Building Programme in Pictures
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