The business world can be tough. That’s why it’s good to toughen up too, in order to ensure your leadership is up to scratch, and your team is up to the challenge of remaining competitive.

If your preconception of corporate teambuilding is a circle of bored co-workers embarking upon roleplay or trying to work out how chickens, foxes and grain can navigate a river safely, you may prefer embarking upon a teambuilding adventure that’s designed to be a little tougher, a little more practical and a great deal more constructive.

We met George Reid in Willingham Woods near Market Rasen, where the former Grenadier Guardsman soldier, Police Officer in the Met and international rugby coach has established his business, Elite Outdoors to bring his military-honed leadership skills into the private sector with leadership training days and residential courses, recruitment assessment, fitness boot camps and survival courses.

“The golden rule when it comes to motivation is to question whether your team is intrinsically, or extrinsically motivated.” says George. “In the military or the Police, if you’re asked to perform a task, the consequences of not doing so can be as serious as life or death, so every soldier internalises the idea that failure simply cannot happen.”

George maintains that the reason military personnel make good leaders is that they operate without conceding that failure is an option. They are, in other words, motivated internally, rather than by extrinsic influences. Their intrinsic self-discipline ensures they won’t allow themselves, or their team, to fail.

George believes this motivation can be taught to others, and says his skills translate extremely effectively into helping to to ensure teams of co-workers become better communicators, work closer together, share an increased sense of collective responsibility and reveal who will make an effective team leader back in the office.

“The courses are fun, as well as being useful.” says George. “We operate from Willingham Woods, and have a good working relationship with the Forestry Commission. We have over 5,000 acres of deciduous broadleaf and commercial pine forest in which to work. It’s a stunning place to spend time!”

Teams embarking on the courses are given tasks to complete, with day delegates charged with creating a bridge across a river, for example.

“We use a real stream... of course.” says George. “Only if there’s a real stream is there a real risk of falling in, and only if there’s a risk of falling in is there motivation to avoid doing so!”

Meanwhile, Elite’s A Night in the Woods course sees around 10 colleagues working together and sharing not just leadership training, but a teambuilding experience too.

“We take them to an existing shelter. They observe its construction.” says George. “From that, they have to create a shelter — and again, if they don’t, they sleep on the floor with no protection from the elements.”

The next challenge is for the participants to create a fire, and make a cup of tea; these are simple tasks that involve communication, listening to suggestions and working together.

It’s a disciplined way of delivering leadership training, but considering George’s military background, there’s no Sergeant Major-style shouting.

“There are five instructors, from the army, the marines, and the RAF.” says George. “Collectively we’ve 50 years of military experience, but that’s not to say we’re there to scream and shout or intimidate our participants. We expect our participants to take it seriously and to push themselves, but ultimately we’re there to impart knowledge and to empower, not to intimidate.”

George says the company is unique as it offers teambuilding that not only focuses on practical rather than theoretical skills, but also makes the distinction between a ‘hard’ skill — being good at one’s job, completing the team’s given task — and ‘soft skills.’

The latter refers to the mental and personal skills needed to interact with co-workers, from communication, to empathy, awareness, self-discipline and stamina, willingness to endure stress or pressure until a task is completed.

“Coming from an infantry background I’ve witnessed what I suppose you’d call prejudice — there’s a preconception that infantry soldiers aren’t bright or well-educated.” says George. “The exact opposite is true. Soldiers have to be mentally tough and are taught to both bond and share a collective responsibility for their co-workers by developing these ‘soft’ skills.”

George says that in 2012, the company will host over 50 courses and has already had enthusiastic enquiries from small companies, companies with flagging sales teams and a large firm of Lincolnshire solicitors and accountants.

“This is not just a jolly.” says George firmly. “We go the extra mile to instil intrinsic motivation, and best of all it takes place in a great setting with practical skills that people find really interesting too.”

Future plans include working with children who have behavioural difficulties, fitness boot camps and recruitment assessment & ongoing mentoring, meaning that in 2012, the company will increase the scope of its services even further.

“No other teambuilding company I’ve come across puts participants under pressure.” says George. “But from this pressure is built a stronger team dynamic and a better business. It’s a bespoke service tailored to suit every client.”