From the Ski Slopes to the Meeting Room, 3 Ways You Can Become a More Caring Leader

?“Can you teach me how to deliver those canned corporate phrases with feeling – no matter how many times I have to say them?”

?That was the challenge put to me by an executive client I had the privilege of working with years ago. It was also the line that sprang to my mind this past week as I looked out across the crowd of colourfully clad skiers on top of the Schmitten mountain in Zell am See, Austria. I was there with daughter Lulu and her friend Pia. ?It was the first time for the girls with Lulu wanting to try snowboarding and Pia opting for skiing. And although I lived in Colorado and used to ski a lot, this was the first time for me in, er, 15 years.?So, I signed each of us up for the appropriate ski school lessons.

?If you’re familiar with this ritual, you can imagine it already. If you aren’t, let me paint the picture.?At the appointed time, you make your way to the lesson meeting point. You and about a zillion other helmet and goggle wearing people stand around in confusion. “Is this the right place?” “Who will be my teacher?” “Will it be worth it?” ?Suddenly a regiment of ski instructors appears from nowhere. Gliding effortlessly in those distinctive, sleek red and white uniforms, they are immediately so much cooler than any of us mere mortals.

?And this is when my client’s question of me all those years ago – again rang forth. Teaching ski school requires turning on effective communication skills that apply to us all.

?1.????Remember your greeting

Whether you’re arriving for your first ski lesson, a new job or even showing up for your first business meeting after the holiday break, you are bound to feel a sense of uncertainty. It’s important that a leader – or a caring colleague – understands this and acts appropriately.

?As a leader, your attitude and the words you choose to deliver set the weather. If it’s sunny on the mountaintop, you can suddenly whip up an icy wind if you’re not ?friendly and reassuring with your welcome.?Look out to the faces of the people you are leading. Think less about yourself and more about each of them.?

?My instructor was from Slovenia. His name was Dusan. Before he began our lesson, he introduced himself and asked each of us to introduce ourselves and share where we were from. His guided greeting helped us immediately feel more comfortable and at ease.

?2.????Remember your role modeling

During my intermediate level lesson, we were asked to ski down a section of the slope holding both ski poles in one hand. Next, we were asked to ski a section rotating the poles around our body between our hands.?A third time, we skied a section while twirling the poles in front of us like a majorette’s baton. Each time, Dusan performed the action first. As I watched him demonstrate each ski pole dance, I wondered how many times he has done this same move, for every new group? Every day. Over and over again.

?Yet, as it was a new experience for us, it was essential for him to repeatedly bring a consistent level of care and control to his comportment.?The same must be true for us in the workplace.?Even if we’re not actively demonstrating a maneuver designed to be witnessed by our teams or our colleagues, make no mistake we are still being watched.

?3.) Remember to include everyone

In every ski school group, there’s always the one who struggles the most.?Pia told us about the “Dad from Cork” who unfortunately got tangled up in the T-bar during their lesson.?In Lulu’s group, there was the teenage boy who helplessly watched his snowboard slide away from him down the slope. In my group, there was the hapless young woman who lost a ski whenever she took a tumble.

In every situation, the instructors were there. To retrieve the gear. To untangle the man. (For the record, my dear Irish beau Damien also joined us on this holiday, but he kept his ski-free feet off the slopes and firmly on terra firma.)

?Is there someone in your team who might be figuratively falling or getting tangled? ?Get involved. Be proactive. At the very least, offer to listen.

You don’t have to be a ski instructor on the slopes in Austria. Whoever you are, wherever you are, you are human.?

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With corporate clients in five continents, Gina London is a premier communications strategy, structure and delivery expert. She is also a media analyst, author, speaker and former CNN anchor. @TheGinaLondon