The Adversity Advantage
The temperature plummeted at night. It wasn’t very high in the morning either. Welcome to the cold desert. Encouraged by the dipping temperature, the wind rushes in. An errant child let loose. Full of energy and power, it unleashes itself on the valley and a small mud hut on the shore of Pangong Tso.
The enchanted lake, Pangong Tso is at a height of 14250 ft. A hundred and thirty four km long it is amongst the longest lakes in the world. Sixty percent in Tibet (now China) and forty percent in India. The shades of colour, its raw beauty and surrounding mountains indeed make this an enchanted lake.
Inside the mud hut were five sunburnt faces. In awe of this manifestation of nature. No words were needed. The thoughts, exactly the same of happiness, peace and strength. Together.
Chang La is the world’s third highest motor-able pass. It has to be crossed on the way to Pangong Tso Dirt road, snow covered on both sides with sharp turns make this an incredible journey.
None of the five in the hut had experienced anything like this before. They were in Leh, the land of Buddha. The cold desert. Deep blue Indus, desert, purple mountains and snow covered peaks. Incredible. The forgotten land.
In an environment like this the ancient mind is back in action. Natural instincts long buried, un earthed. The focus shifts to survival and winning against the elements. Artificial differences created by ego dissolve giving way to natural instincts of care, support and community.
This is not new. This is the basis of us forming a society. Seventy thousand years ago homo- sapiens were a tiny species, they came together and started hunting and living in packs realizing its power. The packs became villages which became clans giving rise to the modern society. This is the adversary advantage or the power of adversary.
Around us we see examples of this. As a common threat is raised, we come together. Hunters, pack movers. Past differences forgotten, guided by our instinct to survive. Great movements are created like this.
How do we leverage this power for our organization? How do we come together as leaders in mind and spirit? Dissolve transactional differences to take our organizations to the next level?
I submit, the same leverage of adversity to unite us. In mind and spirit. Let us create a common adversary. An adversary that is personal and felt within. It cannot be dictated or artificially created. It then becomes false, like rallying the troops for a mock battle. Who is excited about that, though we may go through the motions?
Nature offers this opportunity. It is simple, felt within and shared. Let us use its advantage to unite our teams. Leh is one of the places that may offer this unifying element of nature.
Watch as the teams unite against the elements and then translate this to work environment. The returns are worth the investment.
The world is limitless. Shall we take the first step?
Vivek writes and coaches individuals and companies on Self Worth, Purpose and Willpower. Reach him at +91 98190 48886 or eMail at [email protected]