Outward Bound Professional:
Case Studies: San Francisco State University
Client Background:
Our client, San Francisco State University (SFSU) is one of the nation's leading public urban universities responding to and anticipating the issues that shape our daily lives with creativity and commitment.
Business Situation:
Rapid changes in technology and education have drastically changed the skills, efforts, and outputs required from SFSU's library. Needing to revitalize a staff to focus on new problems and solutions, SFSU turned to Outward Bound Professional to design and deliver a pilot program suitable for all staff.
Program Objectives:
While having fun and involving the entire group, the high-level objective of the one-day custom program was to create awareness and insight into three key areas in order to begin to revitalize the group:
- Experience Working Together As An Effective Team.
- Work On Communication Skills.
- Begin To Improve Morale.
Program Outcomes:
Based upon the satisfaction survey results, Outward Bound Professional exceeded SFSU's expectations in every category including objectives, expectations, skills and facilitators. Specific outcomes included:
More Effective Team:
Dubbed as a "real " learning experience by the participants, the group was able to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and others while learning the skills, values, and knowledge required to work effectively as a team. The group learned to overcome seemingly "insurmountable obstacles," rely on others, have an open mind to various approaches and solutions, and to take intelligent risks
Improved Communication Skills:
Both verbal and non-verbal communication skills were enhanced with a focus on listening, incorporating group ideas, trusting intuition, testing assumptions, and having tolerance and patience.
Increased Confidence And Morale:
Getting to know co-workers "on a different level" created a sense of community, trust, enthusiasm, commitment, confidence in achieving difficult tasks, improved attitude towards teamwork, respect for others, and a foundation for future successes.
What the client said:
"I am happy to recommend OB to all my friends and colleagues at the University. The progress we made in areas of problem solving, trust, communication, risk-taking, and teamwork was remarkable. I had high expectations of OB, and they came through magnificently, with professionalism and an attention to our specific needs that was impressive."
Drew Borland, San Francisco State University
