Training Case Proposal – Outward Bound
Name:
Role:
Contact details:
Outline of training being proposed
As a part of my on-going professional training and development I am seeking support from company
xyz to attend the 8 day……..course delivered by Outward Bound New Zealand.
What development do I expect from this programme?
Outline your current role and where you see opportunities to grow and subsequently add value. If
possible link this back to any recent reviews or specific personal / professional development
discussions you have had with your manager.
My future career aspirations?
Outline your future career aspirations. Where do you want to be in 2-5 years?
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 Research
Independent qualitative research conducted by The Skills Organisation (2013) used a mixture of
phone interviews, student and manger 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."
"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."
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
I am requesting the cost of the course fee and associated travel expenses, e.g. airfares and shuttle
fares.
Cost / Course
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Course fee
Airfares
Shuttles
Total cost
$X,XXX.00
$ 500.00
$ 60.00
$X,XXX.XX
It is possible that your employer would like to know what your contribution
to this might be…perhaps you could offer:
1. One week’s leave
2. Part payment
3. Bond back (pay pack portion of fee if you leave org within 12 months)
Also, if your organisation has less than 50 employees you may be eligible
for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Support (up to 50% of Navigator
course fee). Please contact Shane Wratt at Outward Bound to discuss.
Summary
Provide a basic summary and last comments highlighting why support for this training case is
important to you and will benefit them. Add Remember to thank them for their consideration. ;-)