Bhutan: Weekend Office Archery

Weekend Office Archery, Bhutan

In Bhutan, archery is more than a sport: it’s a social glue. Every weekend, village and city archery ranges come alive with teams in traditional gho robes aiming at distant pinewood targets * *. The scene is equal parts competition and community: expert bowmen loose arrows across 140-meter fields (double an Olympic range), while friends, family, and coworkers cheer and jibe from the sidelines * *. A hit on the target (a karey) triggers an eruption of song, dance, and playful taunts – a choreographed leg-kicking routine and shouts of jubilation that pause the contest for a minutes-long celebration * *. While some traditional gatherings include ara, company-sponsored team events must be alcohol-free with hydration and food only, and the core connection comes from camaraderie. On these fields, colleagues transform into teammates, and status lines blur; a bank manager and a taxi driver might stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the same clan, bound by rhythmic chants instead of office memos.

Archery (dha) has been Bhutan’s official national sport since 1971, but its roots run centuries deep * *. Legends and history enshrine archery as a symbol of skill and unity – from 15th-century monks using a bow to assassinate an anti-Buddhist king *, to village champions consulting astrologers for divine favor before big matches *. In modern times, the bow and arrow have traded warfare for workplace bonding. Many villages maintain archery ranges, and in Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium, the primary national venue for archery, you’re just as likely to see company-sponsored teams competing as regional village squads, though equipment costs and employer sponsorship can shape who participates. Safety is part of the thrill – it’s normal for archers to stand mere feet from the target as arrows whistle in, trusting teammates’ precision *. (It’s a trust not taken lightly: local media have reported injuries from stray arrows, which is why sanctioned events increasingly emphasize strict safety protocols.) Yet shared practice and skill development amplify the collective pride when a teammate’s arrow thuds into the target. Across Bhutan, office notice boards glow with team photos in celebratory poses, colorful victory scarves tied at the winners’ waists – testament that on the archery ground, team spirit isn’t just an ideal but a living tradition.

Meet Bhutan’s Office Archers

For a concrete example of this ritual in action, consider the annual Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Archery Tournament in Thimphu. Alongside village heroes and even royalty (Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck is a regular competitor *), the tournament brackets are filled with corporate and civil service squads. In 2024, construction firm Rigsar Construction entered its rookie team and went on to defeat Rinyang Export in a drama-packed final, clinching the championship after three sets *. Each team of archers wore the company name on their backs and the national colors on their sleeves. The match ran over a day and a half, punctuated by a lunch of rice and ema datshi (chilies and cheese) and plenty of good-natured ribbing across the field. Rigsar’s captain, Kezang Dorji, credited the victory to “confidence and team spirit,” noting that his lineup mixed veteran employees with talented recruits from around the country *. On the opposing side, Rinyang’s manager-archer Sangay Phuntsho praised his rivals and shrugged off the loss as “one-day luck,” epitomizing the sportsmanship and resilience these contests instill *.

Workplace archery spans private and public organizations, including women’s squads and mixed groups. Government ministries, banks, and even the national police field teams in local leagues. One bracket of the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Archery Tournament saw the Ministry of Foreign Affairs squad facing off against a team from a local telecom—diplomats vs. engineers with bows in hand. Every match follows unwritten office rules: teams aim to leave their rank at the door. A junior analyst can outshoot a director, and a normally soft-spoken accountant might belt out the wittiest victory song. Teams sometimes bunk together during multi-day tournaments (an older norm), but many modern leagues schedule day-only participation for inclusivity, and any pre-match rituals are optional and can be secular (for example, a group stretch or mindful breathing). “Archery and Buddhism have long been linked,” observes Prince Jigyel, who likens the mental focus of aiming an arrow to a form of meditation leading to enlightenment *. Even the prizes reflect Bhutan’s values: winner packages often include home appliances like refrigerators or washing machines intended for the household. The message is clear: when you represent your work-family on the archery range, you play not just for personal glory, but for everyone back home or back at the office.

Bows & Bonding: Step-by-Step

Phase	Scene & Ritual	Purpose / Effect
Dawn (Pre-game)	Team Huddle & Blessing: Some teams gather at sunrise for a brief strategy talk or an optional elder’s blessing, which in workplace programs should be offered as separate and voluntary. While some archers consult astrologers or perform good-luck rites, company events should provide a secular equivalent such as a quiet minute of focus.	Center the team’s focus; invoke tradition to boost confidence and unity.
Morning (Match Start)	Opening Rounds: Archers wear traditional gho for men and kira for women as they take turns firing two arrows each. In traditional settings, teammates stand near the target with white flag sleeves (to signal hits) and call out results, but workplace programs must keep all participants behind the shooting line and use range marshals to signal hits. Opponents exchange friendly taunts about each shot’s distance.	Establish group rhythm and trust. (In traditional settings, spotters may stand near targets, but company events must never allow target-side positioning and should use safe distances and barriers.) The banter breaks ice between rival teams.
Each Bullseye Hit	Celebration Dance: When a karey (hit) occurs, the scoring archer ties a bright scarf to their belt. Both teams pause as the scoring side performs a synchronized song and dance, a few quick steps forward and back, often singing of love or bravery. Opponents might laugh and applaud, then respond with a humorous retort.	Recognize individual success within team context (confidence boost). Synchronized movement and singing are associated with stronger feelings of solidarity and cooperation. Even the opposing team shares in the ritual, keeping the mood collegial.
Midday	Ara & Lunch Break: Archers break for refreshments. Teams picnic together on the sidelines—usually spicy curries and suja (butter tea), with a clear no-alcohol policy for company-sponsored events. Laughter and stories flow, and sometimes senior archers advise juniors on technique. Spectators mingle with players.	Relaxation and cross-team camaraderie. Eating and resting together dissolves any lingering hierarchy or tension, ensuring the competition remains friendly.
Afternoon (Clutch Time)	Final Arrows & Victory Cry: As one team nears the 25-point mark to win, focus intensifies. Archers may whisper prayers under their breath, though workplace programs should offer a secular way to pause and focus. The moment the winning arrow thuds into the target, the victors let out a resounding celebratory shout and another dance, while supporters rush in. Both sides exchange handshakes, and teams may close with a brief expression of thanks, which should be secular in workplace settings.	Heighten shared purpose and closure. The collective roar on victory releases stress and cements a feeling of we did it together. Ending with gratitude reinforces respect for teammates, opponents, and tradition and can be expressed in secular ways.

(Major tournaments can extend over several days of rounds. In casual office meets, teams often condense play into a single afternoon or use a lower point target, but the core rituals: songs, dances, jeers, and shared meals, remain the same.)

Why It Works: The Team Chemistry of Tradition

Bhutan’s office archery tradition fires on several cylinders of team psychology. First, it creates an exceptional shared context: colleagues step out of routine and into a beloved national pastime, which instantly grants a sense of we’re in this together. Research shows that performing group activities in sync—like the coordinated dances and chants after each hit—can significantly boost trust and generosity among team members *. The jubilant singing and rhythmic clapping promote a sense of synchrony that is associated with small-to-moderate gains in cooperation and positive affect. Over time, those shared experiences can translate into tighter social bonds back at work.

Intense focus is another ingredient. Drawing a bow demands mindfulness; anxieties about deadlines or KPIs fall away in the moment of aiming. “Once you pull the bow, you forget about everything else and find complete bliss,” notes Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, who compares shooting arrows to a form of meditation leading to enlightenment *. That mental clarity is contagious: seeing a normally frazzled manager utterly Zen on the archery range humanizes them to their team. Meanwhile, the structured practice and mutual support in the sport can foster psychological safety when delivered with strict safety protocols. Standing near a target while a coworker fires an arrow is a traditional practice that should not be used in workplace programs; instead, teams can build trust through coordinated, safe activities that reinforce confidence in each other’s competence and care. Researchers describe these moments as increases in perceived trust and group identification.

Finally, archery culture infuses healthy competition with camaraderie. The witty taunts and banter (lozeys, or semi-poetic diss verses) flying across the field challenge opponents while also making everyone laugh – a dual effect that builds resilience. Team members learn to communicate under pressure, give each other constructive critiques (adjusting stance or aim between rounds), and celebrate every micro-win. No contribution is too small to cheer; even a near miss might get a humorous shout. This constant feedback loop of effort, result, and celebration tightens the feedback culture off the field as well. In essence, Bhutan’s office archers practice high-frequency, low-stakes competition – training their teamwork muscles in an environment where failure just means a good joke, and success means a dance with your peers.

Outcomes & Impact

Companies and agencies that embrace archery as a team ritual can test a simple mechanism-to-metric chain (for example, synchrony → belonging → help-seeking → cross-team ticket resolves per week) to evaluate benefits. Many Bhutanese employees describe weekend archery meets as a highlight, and a brief pre/post survey can test whether participants report higher morale and belonging afterward. In internal interviews, some staff mention feeling “like a family” after enduring a tough tournament together, which aligns with research that synchronous activity is associated with stronger bonding. Archery also offers a wellbeing boost: players report improved concentration and lower stress. “It keeps us mentally sharp and physically fit… an enjoyable way to stay active,” said one 74-year-old retired civil servant, crediting archery for helping him and his peers stay engaged post-career * *. That mental sharpness doesn’t go unnoticed at work – managers sometimes observe archery enthusiasts bringing a calm focus into high-pressure projects, as if the deep breath before releasing an arrow carries over to handling a tight deadline.

The ritual also strengthens cross-department and multi-generational ties. In Bhutan’s close-knit society, an archery team might include the CEO, a junior developer, the office driver and an external friend or two – erasing the silo lines that sometimes form in organizations. Senior leaders who shoot alongside their employees earn a special kind of respect and approachability. Some junior staff say they felt truly “seen” by a director only after spending a day at the archery range together, swapping jokes in between shots. These improved relationships may show up in the workplace as smoother coordination and higher engagement, which leaders can track with simple proxies such as cross-team help replies in Slack or Teams. While formal metrics in Bhutan are scarce, one internal report described a noticeable drop in turnover and a rise in interest in internal job postings after an inter-branch archery league, although this was not externally verified, so leaders should track opt-in rates, re-attendance, and cross-team ticket resolves per week as simple proxies.

Beyond internal benefits, companies leveraging archery have enjoyed public goodwill and brand lift. Local media regularly cover major tournament outcomes – when a corporate team wins a national event like the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Archery Tournament, it’s headline news in Kuensel and talked about on the Monday radio shows. Such victories confer prestige; Rigsar Construction’s 2024 archery triumph became part of its employer brand, with job applicants mentioning it in interviews (“I heard you guys are the archery champs!”). Even international outlets have been captivated by Bhutan’s archery ethos, from the New York Times highlighting how a “baby-faced prince and his team of ringers” battled through a tournament, to photo essays in global media capturing office workers transformed into confident archers on the range. When adapting or citing this practice, include a brief community and ethics note that credits Bhutanese sources and advisors, clarifies permissions, and avoids sharing restricted knowledge.

Lessons for Global Team Leaders

Principle	Why It Matters	How to Translate
Cultural Anchor	Rituals rooted in authentic culture spark pride and loyalty. Because archery is a widely cherished tradition, many teams in Bhutan bond deeply through it.	Leverage your locale or company heritage, and if you draw inspiration from Bhutanese dha, credit its origin while partnering with qualified local instructors and benefit-sharing where appropriate. For example, a tech firm in India might embrace weekend cricket, or a Brazilian team might samba together on Fridays. Choose something genuine to your group.
Friendly Competition	A bit of rivalry energises teams and unites members toward a common goal. Archery matches combine competition with celebration.	Design low-stakes contests (sports, hackathons, even gaming tournaments) where teams compete, then mingle. Emphasize fun and mixing of roles over serious prizes.
Micro-Celebrations	In Bhutan, every small win gets a dance and cheer. Frequent positive reinforcement boosts morale and motivation.	Celebrate the “hits” on your team. Ring a bell or play a pump-up song when someone closes a sale or finishes a sprint. Encourage peer shout-outs for small milestones to keep momentum high.
Egalitarian Play	On the archery ground, job titles aim to disappear – everyone wears similar attire and plays an equal role. This flattens hierarchy and builds mutual respect.	Create environments where leaders and juniors participate equally. Whether it’s a volunteer day, an escape room challenge, or a sports match, let everyone dress down and contribute without rank. Leaders should model humility by laughing at themselves and taking advice from others during the activity.
Trust through Teamwork	Shared effort and coordination build trust without undue risk. In traditional contests, teammates may stand near targets, but workplace programs must never allow this; instead, rely on safe coordination tasks to build mutual reliance.	Incorporate trust-building elements in team activities. Not every culture will tolerate literal risk, but you can try a group trek, a ropes course, or even improv theatre – anything where team members must rely on collective coordination and have “skin in the game” together.

Implementation Playbook

Gauge Interest & Culture Fit: Survey your team about local pastimes or hobbies they love using an opt-in, voluntary approach with a clear no-retaliation statement. Identify one that has broad appeal and cultural resonance, tie it explicitly to a top one to three business priorities (for example, cross-team collaboration or retention), name 2–4 pilot teams/roles and any exclusions (for example, customer-critical windows), and publish a one-page comms note covering why now, norms, opt-in/opt-out, and privacy (anonymous feedback and ≤90-day data retention).
Start Small – Pilot an Event: Host a low-key first session (60–90 minutes) with a named accountable owner, a qualified facilitator, and a simple MVP format like short-range, instructor-led practice. For example, invite a certified instructor to lead a workshop for interested staff with a clear zero-alcohol policy, safety induction, waivers, and an optional secular opening separate from any religious rites. Ensure the activity is inclusive for various skill levels; in archery, beginners should use short-range lanes with backstops, lighter or foam gear, and accessible non-shooting roles or remote-friendly equivalents.
Equip and Enable: Remove barriers to participation by providing equipment or space and by estimating an all-in cost per participant (time x loaded cost + materials/vendor) to secure budget. Schedule sessions within work hours with multiple time slots to include caregivers and shift workers, and prioritize lighter or foam gear, certified venues with backstops, and remote or low-physical alternatives where needed.
Embed Ritual Elements: Don’t just do the activity; add a touch of ceremony. Use team names, start with a secular kickoff (a moment of silence or a non-religious cheer), and build in a tradition of praising good tries as well as successes. In Bhutan, even a missed bullseye often gets an encouraging shout – create that safe space for practice and learning.
Maintain a Rhythm: Consistency makes a ritual. Design a 6–8 week pilot with a defined cadence (weekly or biweekly), group size limits (for example, 8–16), and success thresholds and stop rules agreed in advance. Put it on the calendar and treat it as firmly as a client meeting. Rotate responsibility for organizing to spread ownership.
Cross-Pollinate Stories: After each event, encourage team members to share a highlight or a funny moment at work via an opt-in channel with clear privacy parameters. If sharing photos, obtain consent and set a short retention period (for example, 90 days). Bringing those stories into the office (in all-hands or newsletters) reinforces the positive impact and may draw in newcomers.
Iterate with Feedback: Solicit feedback periodically. Is everyone who wants to join able to? Any safety concerns or suggestions to make it more fun? Partner with certified associations or clubs and set non-negotiables: zero alcohol before or during events, no target-side positioning, and avoid using religious chants or scarves as props unless community-led and strictly optional. Be ready to tweak your ritual to keep it safe, fair, and enjoyable for all.

Common Pitfalls

Skimping on safety – neglecting proper precautions can lead to injuries and erode trust; overdoing competition – turning a friendly game into a cutthroat battle can harm morale. Keep the play fun and inclusive.

Reflection & Call to Action

Bhutan’s office archery clubs demonstrate that the strongest teams are forged outside the boardroom, with bowstrings drawn and laughter echoing off the hills. The specific ritual might not be exportable, and success depends on enablers such as cultural salience, certified safety with range marshals, alcohol-free policies, leader participation with humility, mixed-rank teams, and voluntary opt-in, while fragilizers like high-liability settings, exclusionary schedules, or religious pressure can undermine it; the underlying lesson still travels: teams bond best when they share genuine, joyful experiences tied to their own culture. The invitation to leaders is to find your equivalent of the archery range. It could be as simple as a weekly walking group that explores local parks, a monthly talent show where everyone performs, or a virtual game night that spans time zones. The key is to commit to it and let it grow into tradition.

Imagine your team a year from now, reminiscing about “that crazy idea” which became a beloved ritual – their faces lighting up with the same glow of pride seen on a Bhutanese archer after a bullseye. That’s the power of a well-chosen team tradition. It binds people in ways no quarterly report or Zoom meeting ever will. So take aim: find a ritual that feels right for your crew, and give it a thoughtful try. You might just hit the cultural bull’s-eye that transforms your group into a true community.