Professional Development Themes

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 organizations 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 organization. This fosters strong support and a holistic approach to devising new management strategies in the face of change.

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 workplace, facilitation will then be performed by every team member equally and effectively. Our programs help develop the main characteristics of high performance teams (i.e. participative leadership, responsiveness, aligned on purpose, communicative, task focused, problem solving, and innovative workforce) to empower your departmental or cross-functional teams.

We can also help well established teams recognise any ingrained 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.

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 for 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!

Managers rely on a wide range of skills to keep organizations competitive in today’s global business environment. We realize ‘management’ involves planning, prioritizing, 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 for 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.

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 workplace. We can also encourage and discuss the use of different leadership styles and approaches that may prove beneficial.

The Borderlands River Rescue course is intended for those personnel who will be required, in teams, to carry out rescues in a swiftwater and flood environment. The course is based on the philosophy of self-protection and application of low to high risk solutions.

The student can expect high practical involvement in water and application of skills to relate to their incident situations. The training is important as it will provide the necessary skills to enable them to operate safely and effectively during rescues.

This course is delivered at the Borderlands adventure centre on the Kelani River.

Who is this course for?
The course is designed for personnel from emergency services, rescue teams as well as raft guides and those involving moving water activities e.g. kayaking.

Course requirements

• Minimum age: 18.
• Medically fit and healthy.
• Students should have the ability to swim confidently.

 Course content

• hydrology,
• introduction to technical rescue equipment,
• hazard identification and risk assessment,
• introduction to rope systems,
• personal and team equipment,
• swimming in moving water,
• channel crossing methods,
• entrapments,
• search options,
• management and organizations of water incidents,
• medical consideration,
• flat water boat handling,
• contact and in moving water rescues.

Assessment & certification
Continuous practical assessment and a written test.

Duration: 4 days
Price per delegate: Please enquire for price