The Usha Martin team with their TSAF instructors

It is the age to “get in touch with oneself”. To discover one’s inner being. There is no conventional way to do so as every individual seeks his or her own mode of salvation. Tata Steel Adventure Foundation offers its own unique road to Self Discovery.

In the midst of virtually virgin territory, TSAF has made Nature the classroom and experience the teacher. Adventure, it believes, provides a learning, which is very personal and profound. The experience it puts every participant through, expands both their skills and scope through challenging activities conducted in a safe and supportive manner.

In February, TSAF conducted two Management Development Programmes, each of which was about a week long. During the first programme, 31 Diploma Engineer Trainees of the Usha Martin Training Institute participated in an outdoor programme at the Tumung Rocks, Dimna and Dalma. The course proved to be the most memorable experience in their year long training programme, and certainly one which they will remember all their lives.

The participants grappled with real problems, dynamic issues, felt the struggle with every constraint and the consequences of their actions were only too real. However, the self confidence, self discovery and team work gained by them made the effort well worth the rigours faced by them.

Eight days for 22 engineers of Tata Motors, during the second programme, with the TSAF instructors meant acquiring skills such as navigation, boat work, rope work, rock climbing, caving and kayaking. Each of these activities was used to illustrate interconnected concepts in Managerial Group Behaviour.

The engineers from Tata Motors record an incredible experience

During the programme, as is the case with all other TSAF programmes, candidates were given the opportunity to use themselves, their skills, body and intellect in ever changing situations to successfully complete a task and gain a sense of achievement and confidence from it. The unfamiliar environment among the rocks was used to stimulate personal risk taking, managing change and exploring the boundaries of one’s self imposed restrictions, habits and constraints.

As the programmes drew to a close the participants were able to “relate the learnings from the activity with work and adapt oneself,” as one of them succinctly put it.

Team work they now realise is all about, “a high level of flexibility and proper coordination amongst the members during difficult times.” It then “ensures that we encounter real life problems with the same zeal and solve them together.”