Everything Is Possible

INDIA BEATS

Everything is possible

SMITA JAIN

Walk on fire? Why not? A novel approach to corporate training and organisational solutions.

HANDS-ON APPROACH: Making change possible in organisations.

IN the corporate world, it may not be uncommon to overhear an employee describing her weekly presentations as "walking on fire", or describing himself "hypnotised" during an especially boring talk. But for Training Alternatives, an organisational development training consultancy, fire-walk and hypnosis are just some of the unconventional weapons used in its corporate trainings. "The biggest challenge in personal and organisation change is the lack of individual conviction that change is possible," says Santhosh Babu, founding director of Training Alternatives. "Most of us think that we cannot walk on fire. In a similar manner, we believe that we cannot achieve a certain target, or reach a personal goal. The tools that we use help us challenge these deep-set beliefs and unlock our potential, and through this, the potential of the organisation."

Changing beliefs
In a typical fire-walk, a thick board of firewood is lit up and set on fire. Immediately after the fire has died out, the red-hot, burning remains are spread out into an eight-foot bed. One by one, participants walk across it — though not without a measure of trepidation. "When it was announced before the session that our team would be walking on fire, a lot of employees said they wouldn't do it, reasoning that `it wasn't a part of their QRA'," admits Shankar Prasad, COO of Airtel UP East. "But not only did everyone participate, the most hesitant ones walked over the bed repeatedly because they were so excited they could do it!" Over 5,000 people — including the management of top-tier blue chip companies such as Electrolux and LGE — have undergone the trainings. "At one workshop, we had asked the senior management of LG to put a snake around their necks," says Santhosh. "Though they were reluctant at first, they were amazed at what they had done. In fact, after our `changing beliefs' sessions, people are astounded at their achievement." Indeed, Training Alternatives has found that unleashing the power of the individual is the magic mantra of successful change within organisations. "Our workshops are geared at building the power of the individual. Tools such as hypnosis help show employees what the human mind is capable of, and help us step out of our comfort zones," says Santhosh, who is a trained hypnotist. At a hypnosis show recently conducted at IIT-Roorkee, Santhosh turned normally meek, well-mannered IIT-ans into crying babies, drunken wanderers and Brad Pitts. Not your typical day at IIT, for sure.
In fact, Santhosh stands as a testament to the immense potential latent within us. A self-taught hypnotist, magician, amateur actor and palmist, he has consistently sought new ways to understand himself and the world. "Experience is the best teacher," says Santhosh, "so our focus has been on providing memorable and meaningful experiences."

Specific solutions
Training Alternatives' hands-on approach to training — emphasising an "experiential" versus the traditional lecture-demonstration approach — sets it apart from others in the training sector. While many training companies offer standardised trainings, Training Alternatives' workshops are built on the assumption that, like human beings, organisations are dynamic entities that require specific solutions to their challenges. "We stay away from a `one size fits all' approach to organisational solutions. We develop customised training to tackle specific challenges," says Santhosh.

And of course, an element of fun is always a part of the equation. Santhosh and his team are constantly experimenting to add to their stock of unusual training techniques. They are soon going to introduce a theatre component to their trainings, "as it helps to break inhibitions, opens one to criticism and opens new communication channels," says Santhosh. So don't be surprised if, at your next corporate meeting, your boss is "acting" more baboon-like than usual; you just may have Training Alternatives to thank for.

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