GEL stands for Group Experiential Learning. We create, plan, execute and facilitate high impact team building and leadership development experiential programs.
Executives turn to us for help developing team and leadership skills, improving communication, forging new teams or cultures, realizing synergies from mergers and acquisitions and bonding with key clients.
Why the focus on sailing programs?
Anyone Can Play
Sailing is perhaps the most egalitarian sport. Male and female sailors compete with and against each other, even at the level of the America’s Cup. People with any level of physical dexterity can sail. Controls are user friendly, easy on the body, and inclusive by design. Quadriplegic sailors compete regularly with able-bodied individuals across the country.
No experience is necessary to sail with GEL. Non-sailors, non-swimmers, non-athletes and naysayers are among our most enthusiastic alumni. So… trust us… your team can do this together.
Immediate Feedback For Everyone
Unlike a high ropes exercise, go-karting, or team-cooking, sailing requires constant real-time collaboration between every person on board.
Unfailingly, the boat’s performance immediately highlights issues involving decision making, consensus building, leadership and delegation. Participants see, hear and feel how an unspoken question or a garbled exchange can slow the boat down or stop it dead in the water.
Learning Made Simple
GEL’s debriefs are known for dynamic conversations, comprehending nods and wide smiles, as well as a few rueful grins. GEL facilitators do not spout platitudes, or use “consultant-speak." We help your team develop their own insights and take-aways, but work with you to focus the power of experiential training on your specific issues and objectives.
Team building events and experiential training can be an important part of broader initiatives to develop positive norms, behaviors, and leadership styles. Your experience should be geared to your specific needs. We recommend polling your group to identify potentially hidden issues. GEL provides advance assessments and consulting services to help maximize the effectiveness of your experiential training.