Paintballing - should you blast your boss?
Stalking through the undergrowth, stealthy, Panther like, target in range at 3 o'clock - Lock and Load!
But wait, your finger falters on the trigger, the crosshair strays from its mark, there in your sights is your boss……
Team building exercises have become increasingly commonplace in the modern workplace. Whether you like it or not there is every chance that you will be asked to take part in activities ranging from quad biking, orienteering, and laser quest, to paintballing and even parachuting.
You should consider that despite the fact your team building activities will be outside of office time you will still be in the company of your colleagues and it is possible that how you perform could have a bearing on your standing within the company.
Types of team building activities
In order to increase productivity and to get employees 'bonding' companies are increasingly encouraging their staff to take part in departmental activities.
These pursuits, often of a physical nature, are usually paid for by the company and out of work hours. They can include:
- Sailing
- Rock Climbing
- Orienteering
- Paintballing
- Laser Quest
- Survival weekend
Kill or be killed?
Whatever you undertake you should throw yourself into it and do your best. Often sports and outdoor pursuits are competitive and certain office environments are breeding grounds for professional rivalry, combining the two can be a recipe for career carnage.
Egos and gold wristwatches can be trampled underfoot in the rush for glory. As the finishing line looms, elusive 'lady promotion' can slip away.
If you excel ahead of your senior colleagues you may end up making enemies. Bosses used to winning do not like suddenly losing. Obviously because you are an MD and are great with corporate buy-outs it does not qualify them to climb a rock face - there may be red faces come Monday morning.
But putting things in perspective - again by demonstrating stamina, physical agility and aggressive determination may impress your boss. You will not be called upon to traverse a craggy expanse in the office but the qualities you need to do that sort of task - grit and determination, are useful and desirable in the right situation at work.
The Repercussions
Scenario one -
You pull the trigger on your gas powered M-16 and blast your boss - GAME OVER.
- Your boss takes it sportingly - It's all part of the game
- Your boss praises your marksmanship and you go up in his/her estimation
- Your boss takes it badly, sulks, no Christmas bonus for you.
Scenario two - You miss your boss on purpose
- Your boss lives another day, oblivious to your opportunity
- Your boss sees that you missed at point blank range and you go down in his/her estimation
- Your boss returns fire and you are out of the game
Motivation
Your boss represents all that is evil and has to be destroyed. The paintball shot was revenge for all those dogs-body jobs and for not giving you a pay rise for over 2 years. ….
Team building exercises are not the time to vent grudges. It is healthier and far more productive to sort your work problems out at work. Instead of running your boss off the road in a quad arrange an appointment and talk to them about why you are not happy at work. This way the problems can be resolved without the need for CPR.
It all comes down to Industry
If you work in sales, marketing or in finance you need aggressive, competitive attributes to succeed in the workplace. Naturally you therefore want to show to your boss that you have these qualities. In which case it would probably be highly appropriate to 'Blast your Boss'.
If you work in a less target driven sector such as accounting, education or insurance then it may be less appropriate to push yourself to the limit during team building tasks.
If your company organises any sort of activity for your department have a good
day. Do not take it too seriously they are organised so you can spend
time with your colleagues and have fun.
