I have been working at Outward Bound this week.   I am always inspired by the courage and growth that I see in the students that I am working with but I have come to realise that the most important and inspirational feature of the Outward Bound Experience is the culture that pervades everything that happens here.  

 

Small things like the Duty Manager waiting at the end of the jetty at 8 o'clock at night with a trolley to help us unload the launch and cutter or students from an unrelated group spontaneously offering to help unload when I know they have had a tough day and are no doubt looking forward to bed.  

 

Every day I see Instructors working extra hours and putting up with uncomfortable conditions to make sure the students "get the best possible experience."   They have four values:   Compassion, Integrity, Responsibility and Greatness.   They talk about these to the students but most importantly they are absolutely evident in their behaviours, their commitment and their whole work ethic.   The hours they work - 12 hours a day, 14 hours a day - these are never discussed, they are not an issue -- what is important is a constant assessment of "are we behaving in a way that is going to give our students the  best experience we can?"

 

Every course I see students achieving more and enduring more than they thought was possible and while this is inspirational to the observer it only happens because of the attitudes and values of the Instructors.  

 

We often hear people in organisations lamenting "if only we could get people to work with the energy and passion that they bring to their sport"    They should go to Outward Bound because that is exactly what happens there!