Farscape Development — Reach Your Goals Faster

Case Study Gregor Megson – Gained Promotion

What were the challenges?

• As an employee of Investors in People Scotland, Gregor felt that although he was busy he wasn’t being challenged enough by his position and wanted to gain experience of challenging situations in order to apply more focus to his work.
• The organisation were concerned about retaining Gregor as an employee with high potential and therefore needed to maintain his active interest in the role by offering him new and exciting challenges.
• Gregor’s employers were considering him for growth within the organisation and therefore wanted to develop his skills in the areas of leadership and management, as well as equipping him with the ability to handle workplace challenges and pressures.

What happened?

• Gregor participated in a two-week Farscape Overseas Learning Experience in Kenya led by Operations Director Ken Hames along with a small group of high performance employees from other companies.
• The trip to Kenya saw the group trek in the Kenyan bush using camels to carry equipment. Conditions were at times tough in terms of heat and altitude and the Experience presented a physical and mental challenge which pushed the participants to explore their own limits in a situation outside of their comfort zone.
• The Experience was designed to allow the participants the space and time to explore the skills which are necessary to survive in both the workplace and in the wilderness from a different angle, considering what their own strengths and areas for improvement were.
• The trip ended with an experiential training programme with a local business management school where the participants developed their leadership and teamwork skills through experiential learning.
• The delegates were expected to take responsibility for their own itinerary and organise their own provisions and were introduced to some survival and bush craft skills.  As such they had to quickly develop the ability to communicate with one another effectively.
• During the Experience the group interfaced with local people and some tribes and had to rapidly develop working relationships which achieved their desired outcomes, in an unfamiliar way.
• The group shared a Learning Experience with like-minded delegates of a similar age, which gave them the opportunity to discuss and develop different work practices and learn from others, as well as helping them to define, through consideration and discussion, their own motivations, drivers and goals.

What are the outcomes so far?

• Gregor’s self-awareness and self-control were greatly improved as a result of his experiences.  In particular he felt more robust after his time operating in the wilderness. 
• After experiencing the variety of challenges that the journey presented and pushing himself to test his own limits Gregor grew in self confidence and is now more able to deal with difficult work experiences and challenges.
• Gregor had a personally and professionally enriching experience and returned to work with a refreshed outlook and with greater clarity about his motivations and goals.  He also identified new methods for communicating with and building relationships with people who are different to him.
• As a result of his experiences Gregor now deals with his workload and pressure more effectively.  He also felt ready to take on more responsibility and as such he applied for and was successful in gaining a promotion within IIP Scotland.

‘I'd advise anyone to go on an Experience like this; the value of doing something out of your comfort zone will pay off in dividends! It’s a great opportunity to develop your career and experience something new.’

If you’d like to read Gregor’s blog about his experiences click here.