Page 27 - Here and Now – Apr 2024

But, from the third day onwards, I became a different person. Defiant and yet calm, not ready
to take anything lying down. It didn’t go unnoticed by the group. I praised a group member who
was being attacked by the group. I gave firm, constructive, emotional feedback to someone else.
All supported by data, as my Basic lab facilitator had suggested. This caught everyone by

surprise.

I felt free, unchained, as if retooled for life ahead. The journey was so intense this time that
there were not only hugs, but raw tears when we parted. Some associations, no, meaningful
relationships, even eighteen years later, are still going strong!

My takeaways

Honestly, many! To mention a few…

I am no longer shy to pick up a conversation with an unknown individual. And the much-dreaded

barrier of talking to a woman is also gone! I organizational life, I had earlier operated from logic
and rationale, rarely, if ever, from feelings. But I found that after my lab experiences, I began to
get comfortable to express my feelings and even be spontaneous – an uncharted territory for
me until the labs.

Most importantly, my colleagues find me fun to work with! What else do I need? I can’t thank
those behavior labs enough for who I have become today.

Afterthoughts!

After saying all this, I must add that attending these labs is not a one-way route, it’s not all fun

and excitement and learning.
The facilitators were extremely supportive to the obvious high-fliers of the lab, the energetic,

articulate ones. They praised them, cheered them and seemed to adore them with incisive
analysis. Quite rightly.

But, alas, all the lab participants weren’t all high-fliers. Those who were not ‘up there’ needed
support and kindly, compassionate guidance. However, I saw that what they generally got in the
labs was stern ‘wake-up’ calls, criticism, and at times even worse - mocking! This can be
damaging to an individual’s sense of self-confidence and leave some of those participant(s) with
a scar or two for quite a long time.

ISABS would do well to look at this aspect of the Labs – to do no harm, even if no good is done.

However, considering all the pros & cons, I have found it still worthwhile plunging into a lab or
two. The potential benefit of learning from the experience of intense interaction with others

pg. 26