Team Outings at Microsoft

I dont think anyone will doubt that Microsoft is the best place in the world to be working in. Its not the the great work that you get to do and the compensation you get in return, its the way the company strives day in and day out to take care of its employees. The company takes care of so many things in your life that when you are at work you end up giving maximum possible concentration to your work.

The one thing that people are touchy about is "Maintaining a good Work-Life Balance". As a part of steps taken to ensure that everyone here has a decent work-life balance lots of activities are carried out by the various teams. Typically, teams will have regular outings, luncheons etc. Usually for this teams pick up some good occasion like a Shipping achievement or even a milestone closure! Such activities are planned with a great thinking and innovation. In my year and a half stint at Microsoft I have done 'n' number of lunches/dinners, bowling, IMAX movies, water sports, cricket matches, go-karting, rock-climbing, archery ... phew

Just yesterday we had another one in the series ... our team came to office in the morning and we went to ICRISAT on the outskirts of Hyderabad. ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) is a research institute where argricultural engineers and scientists try to find new and innvative ways of being able to grow various crops in Semi-Arid regions (like AP) where even drinking water is luxury. Spread out on acres of land it is around 40 kms from Hyderabad (towards Pune).

Along with the research centre this place also contains a holiday resort where people can come away from the commotion of the cities and spend some quality time amongst the green pastures. The holiday resort is well equipped with tennis courts, basket-ball courts, swimming pool etc. The food serves is also awesome. An ideal place for Hyderabadis to spend a weekend with families.

So yesterday we went there around lunch time and started the outing with a sumptous meal (आधी पोटोबा
...) Later we were divided into teams and lots of interesting activities were planned. Some people chose to stay out of the activities and enjoyed tennis and swimming. And in the evening it was topped with a great treasure hunt ... I participated in a treasure hunt after almost 12-13 years ... had done that in school before

The outing was a bit tiring, but it was fun. In out day to day routines we hardly get to interact with some 4-5 people in a team of 50. So outings like this a good place for team interaction. All 'n all a good break from work and a good way to start your weekend a day earlier