GSK staff bonds in grand adventure

The staff in Sri Lanka of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals bonded together recently in the spirit of adventure in an exciting team-building initiative involving activity-based soft skills development training, rock climbing and river crossing.

The three-day outward-bound training program was attended by 104 people led by Managing Director Stuart Chapman. The program was conducted by the Sri Lanka Business Development Centre (SLBDC) in Dambulla at the Dambulu Oya Family Park Hotel.

While providing the thrill and enjoyment of adventure, the program was structured to bring out the hidden talents and improve self-confidence of the members of the GSK team and enhance their skills and attitudes particularly with regard to teamwork, operating under pressure, time-management, leadership and communication.

The program, described by some GSK staff as a highly memorable ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ event, culminated with each of the eight groups of participants making presentations on how they would apply the experience they have gained during the exercise, at their workplace.

The Outward Bound training program comprising of a wide variety of outdoor activities helped participants to demolish self-imposed barriers and unleash their hidden potential, expand knowledge and enhance skills and competencies, the company said.  “Such experiential learning reaches the inner core of the participants so that sustainability is higher and we can expect our training objectives to be met,” said GSK Pharmaceuticals Human Resources Manager Nandani Amarawansha. “Informal events of this nature can contribute significantly to strengthen relationships between team members and build team spirit. The present corporate environment demands flexibility and adaptability and such programs help inculcate these qualities.”

One inspired GSK team member’s entry on the log book of the organisers read: “I got the meaning for nothing is impossible if your heart is willing.”

GSK and its predecessors have been doing business in Sri Lanka since the late 1930s. A world leading pharmaceuticals and vaccines company, GSK is the only pharmaceuticals company to tackle the three “priority” diseases identified by the World Health Organization (WHO): HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.