She felt comfortable enough to open up to comments by other members of the group on her own leadership style and to offer constructive criticism. Most of the people on that trip will be my friends for life. Sidle's job as director of the Johnson School's Park Leadership Fellows Program is to help develop leadership skills. After a day of introductions and packing supplies for the camping trip, participants spend the second day at the Hoffman Challenge Course, just a few miles away from campus. Low challenges amount to an obstacle course that requires teams to brainstorm and problem-solve while using the group's resources as a whole.
High challenges are typically on poles and platforms up off the ground.
They focus on pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones to break through perceived limitations. Sometimes the exercises evoke fear and anxiety and bring out different personality characteristics, says facilitator and Johnson School professor Alan Pike. Encouragement from other members of the team and faith in their competency and the safety gear build a sense of trust, he says. When starting each exercise, facilitators give directions and then step back, allowing the group dynamics to follow their own course. Frequent feedback sessions help develop group dynamics and build each person's self-awareness.