Outward Bound Leadership Development Proposal
What is being proposed and why
Example: Our company is committed to providing learning and development opportunities for its
emerging talent and managers. It is proposed …
About Outward Bound
Outward Bound is New Zealand’s leading organisation for showing people their potential through
challenge and adventure in the outdoors. Whilst Outward Bound is known for its life changing
outdoor based courses, they also have 8 day courses designed specifically for business and employee
development. These include specialist facilitators and workshops, with a focus on leadership
development for managers and personal foundation skills for employees early in their career.
Through participating in facilitated workshops, workplace feedback and team activities,
participants discover what is needed to take their performance to the next level.
At the core of all Outward Bound for business courses is a focus on:
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Attitude: Maintaining a can-do attitude when under pressure or faced with change.
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Communication: An understanding of how others communicate differently and learning to
adjust preferred communication style according to the individual, task and the team.
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Awareness: Development of self-awareness through personal reflection, goal achievement,
small group discussions and giving and receiving feedback.
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Confidence: Displaying a ‘balanced’ confidence in a team environment and growing personal
confidence to step up to new challenges and opportunities.
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Teamwork: Appreciating the differences team members bring and experiencing what a high
performing team can achieve together.
Course Outcomes and Value
Independent qualitative research conducted by The Skills Organisation (2013) used a mixture of
phone interviews, student and manager surveys and comparison groups to provide a range of
findings on the outcomes and value of Outward Bound courses. These results reflect the
feedback our customers regularly report and highlight the following (among others) observed
outcomes for employees and employers:
Task leader
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Better at interacting with team members and customers
Increased empathy and understanding of others
Better at teamwork and managing teams
Career progression
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Accelerated career progression
Ability to take on bigger jobs and more responsibility earlier
Persuading skills
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Increased confidence / self-belief
Increased maturity
Improved leadership skills
Organisational impact
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Increased productivity
Positive attitude lifting others performance and general workplace culture
Participants require less supervision time
Demonstrated increased loyalty
Immediate and long term outcomes
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Positive results have been recognised by employers immediately and these have remained
evident for students several years after the event.
Sample of employer statements from this research
"I don't think he would have reached where he got to if he hadn't of attended the course. We may
have been able to get him a little bit further but certainly not to the level that the course got him"
"If one guy improves a lot, then it lifts everyone else. Boost’s your whole team environment.
Confidence improves, customers notice that. So if a guy does reach his potential, there is huge benefit
to that."
"I would say that both the ones that we paid for ourselves to go on (…), we have got value for money
straight away"
"At … we do a rating for salary reviews… most people are around 2… he's been rated as a 3… He
would have been a 1.5 before the course."
"Some of the [team] that have been on the course, they were on it 3 years ago so they have changed
and it's been ongoing. It's not like it lasted a year - it's lasted the whole (time). Their whole outlook
on life has changed."
Excerpt from the author of the 2013 Skills Organisation research: “Furthermore, many of the
participants came back from the programme better able to supervise teams having developed
greater openness, maturity and an ability to manage conflict and diverse opinion more effectively.
The programme thus provides an effective leadership development process across the spectrum of
management and leadership within the built environment trades.”
Outward Bound Course Options
Navigator leadership course – aspiring and current managers
The Navigator course focuses on self-awareness, personal management and team influence. It’s
designed to help aspiring and current managers to make the transition from sole responsibility to
leading others and building teams. Turning theory into action is a key component of this course. The
outdoors becomes the classroom and participants rise to the challenge of leading a team in this
unique environment.
Navigator includes:
 360 degree feedback and manager expectations reports (pre-course).
 Specialist facilitator and two Outward Bound instructors.
 Range of key workshops delivered in training rooms throughout the programme.
 Series of Outward Bound outdoor expeditions and team challenges.
 Various opportunities to lead others and receive on-course feedback.
 Some coaching post course with further coaching available on request.
Sample of companies currently using this programme to develop their leaders:
Mainfreight
Hynds Pipes
ASB Bank
Haydn and Rollett
Simpson Grierson
DHL Logistics
Coca Cola Amatil
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Fidelity Life
Methanex
Fisher & Paykel
Port Taranaki
Fonterra Cooperative Group
Synlait Milk
McConnell Dowell Constructors
Unison Contracting
Key modules included in Navigator:
Business courses use facilitated workshop sessions and outdoor challenges.
Managing expectations
Coaching skills
Leadership rituals
Values and leadership
Self-limiting beliefs
Self-talk
Stages of group development
Delegation
Situational leadership
Emotional intelligence
Getting the big picture
Experimenting with leadership
Compass emerging talent course – early career, high potential
The Compass course focuses on helping employees early in their career to work more effectively in
teams, grow personal confidence and communicate face to face with colleagues and customers.
Compass will challenge participants to step back, see the big picture and recognise their role as a
contributing member of a team. Outdoor expeditions provide individuals with many opportunities
to step outside their comfort zone and push their personal limits. Workshops are also delivered
throughout the course providing peer to peer feedback, personal reflection, goal setting and
individual work-style analysis.
Compass includes:
 Manager and participant pre-course expectations process.
 On-course peer to peer feedback.
 Workshop content focused on workplace outcomes.
 Series of Outward Bound outdoor expeditions and team challenges.
 Personal goal setting
Sample of companies currently using this programme to develop their leaders:
IAG
Higgins Contracting
Ports of Auckland
Apex Electronics
Certified Builders
Powerbase Electrical Suppliers
South Waikato District Council
Unison contracting
Plumbing Gasfitting and Drianlayers Board
TSB Bank
Wellington City Council
Hubbards Foods
Key modules included in Compass:
Business courses use facilitated workshop sessions and outdoor challenges.
Personal and team decision making
Adapting working styles
Working towards shared goals
Self-reflection
Guided problem solving
Continuous improvement
Communication skills
Personal values
Assertiveness
Goal achievement
Stepping into new challenges
Giving and receiving feedback
Course fee and expenses
The company will cover the cost of the course and associated travel expenses, e.g. airfares and
shuttle fares. We will not cover the cost of equipment and clothing required. Please note: that
Outward Bound have an extensive range of equipment and clothing which can be used by course
participants so there is no need for people to buy new items.
Cost / Course
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Course fee
Airfares
Shuttles
Total cost
$x,xxx.xx
$ 500.00
$ 60.00
$x,xxx.xx
The cost will be funded from (which budget/s).
Benefits
As with all training courses within our learning and development programmes, there will be benefits
for both the individual and organisation. This initiative is expected to both compliment and extend
our existing leadership development. As a result of staff attending an Outward Bound course, the
following specific benefits are expected for Halls.
(add your content here. strong tie to organisational values / aspirations is important –we suggest no
more than 5-6 key benefits – this should be a strong proposal so keep it succinct and avoid diluting
the key points)
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Benefit 1
Benefit 2
Benefit 3
Benefit 4
Benefit 5
Benefit 6
Recommendation
The proposal to develop and support the introduction of Outward Bound involvement for up to [x]
staff per financial year be approved and reviewed annually through participant interviews post
programme.
Participant Application Criteria
Example: Applications are restricted to staff who have been employed with us for a period of
at least 12 months.
As our focus is on developing emerging and existing leaders, we will give consideration to the staff
members’ leadership potential and role. The staff members’ performance track record will also be
taken into account in making a decision on who will attend a course.
All successful applicant/s will be expected to prepare a newsletter article about their experience, as
well as provide a verbal presentation for their team, department, Executive or organisation as agreed
with their Manager and a representative from the Executive team.
We will also consider opportunities for the successful applicant to take on additional responsibilities,
such as mentoring another staff member. These opportunities will be discussed and agreed with the
respective Manager.
Please note that Outward Bound have some criteria that must be met before course attendance is
confirmed. Information regarding the criteria is available on the Outward Bound website,
www.outwardbound.co.nz.
Outward Bound Opportunity - Information for applicants
Purpose
Briefly describe the purpose of the initiative
Scope
Explain the scope.
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Is it offered annually?
Value of course per place
How many people will be selected
Attendance at these courses requires a strong commitment to achievement and development, as
well as the commitment to participate fully in all activities and tasks set within these programmes,
all of which are essential elements to getting the most out of these opportunities. We have
developed application criteria to ensure that we select members with a strong desire to learn and
achieve from these experiences.
Application Criteria
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Applications are restricted to?
Who will approve places and what will be taken into account?
Is travel included?
How to Apply
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Applications will close on?
Where to find the application form?
Where to send the application form?
All applications will be considered by [XYZ decision making team]. The decision of this group is
complete and final.
To learn more please contact [company xyz initiative administrator]
Scholarship Application Form
Full Name:
Date of Birth:
Business Unit:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
Course Title:
Date/s of the course:
Write a personal statement of no more than 500 words which sets out how you think this course will assist
your future development and give the reasons why you think you should be considered for this development.
Perhaps include details of professional development completed and your future goals.
How the course will benefit my organisation:
Any other comments you wish to make in support of your application:
My commitment to the business:
 To strive to successfully complete all components of the program
 Supply the business with a written report and presentation of experience I gained
 Track and monitor my progress alongside my manager up to 12 months following the programme
Declaration
 I must meet the minimum fitness requirement - comfortably run 3km in less than 25 minutes.
 I understand Outward Bound has a no-smoking policy including no alcohol or non-prescription drugs.
 I understand a high standard of behaviour is expected from all participants without exception.
 I understand if I fail to comply with the course conditions or have withheld any relevant information, I
may be sent home at my own expense.
 I understand if I am awarded, I will be required to take the scholarship within six months.
 I understand the opportunity cannot be deferred.
 I declare that the information I have given on this form is correct and complete.
Applicant Signature:
Date:
Direct Supervisor/Manager to complete, if applicable:
Please submit a brief letter of support for the above named to attend this course.
Direct Manager
Signature:
Date:
Signature:
Date:
Signature:
Date:
Signature:
Date:
Panel Approval: