Corporate workplaces can be an ideal place to unwind, de-stress, acquire a new skill, learn a new language or even to have a great time with your friends, spouse and even children. All while on the job. Not convinced, think again.

The new mantra of nurturing human assets in the corporate domain these days is the Fun@Work principle. Companies allow their teams to let their hair down once in a while and include the element of fun. It boosts morale, breaks monotony, promotes camaraderie, creates bonds and reduces stress. HR managers swear by it. It improves staff retention, rejuvenates the employee, enables creative thinking and fosters group cohesion and attains spirited teams.
DefenceIndia, a boutique training organization known for its Nature Trail workshop that was based on the Army Boot Camp – being designed and imparted by the ex-spokesperson of the Indian Army, Col. Anil Shorey (Retd) – and focused on team building and leadership skills using metaphors, role-plays, physical outdoor activities and interactive sessions, has now introduced the Fun Trail. An extension of the Nature Trail workshop with a blend of fun quotient interwoven cleverly.

The new Nature Trail allows participants to let go off their inhibitions, overcome hesitations and plays on the subconscious attempt to continuously adapt to unfamiliar or changing circumstances. Breaking out from the regular fixed routine outbound training program, the new Nature Trail in its many avatars seeks to raise performance levels by giving the participants a self-driven exercise that may include game fishing, rock climbing, rappelling or even a Bullet trip to the Himalayas, a leadership trek to Kasauli, or participating in a rock show, jam session or a night at the Oscars specially conceived, designed and staged for the participants.

Col. Shorey remarks, ‘The new trail achieves much more than the traditional routine. While our boot camp workshop broke new ground, it wasn’t something others weren’t doing…With this, we have triued to reach out to the executives with a wide range of solutions that are sure to achieve the seemingly impossible – low morale, stress and lack of cohesion…’

Imparted under strict supervision by experts, The Nature Trail recently took a 15 member high profile team of one of the world’s leading banks to a 27 kilometer hike in the upper Himalayas. The team were awed by the journey but were enthusiastic of the program enough to spend a day in a village, sow potato seeds, cook food for the contingent, write a new song and dance to its tune, all the while braving the strenuous trek. Needless to add, this fun element raised the bar on the coaching imparted that was non-judgemental, devoid of rhetoric, avoided clichés and promoted team spirit and bonding.

Companies are open to new ideas in the workplace as well. Col. Shorey adds, ‘Companies now regularly call us at DefenceIndia to stage an Oscars, Best Chef, Best Singer, Best Foosball, Best Cricketer event – a Wow Event – that allows them to execute an event that is open to families, generates goodwill, bonhomie and also promotes an egalitarian closely bonded group that will promote happiness and enhance performance levels across the board…

Fun@Work is catching up in the major metros and is an extension of the novel methods in use by HR managers to keep the team spirits high – and retain them.