“The Kon-Tiki ?? A fascinating expedition by an extraordinary team.”

What can we learn from the story of Thor Heyerdahl for team & leadership from today's perspective?

Ever since my earliest childhood, I have been fascinated by adventure stories. Stories about expeditions, explorers and discoverers. Stories about people who dared to look beyond the horizon still fascinate me today.

Why?

Because they were prepared to embrace the unknown and take risks, to test their own limits mentally, physically and emotionally in order to discover new worlds.

These stories always inspire me personally to apply my findings to the present day and to my own professional context.

The year 2024 is coming to an end and I think it's time for peace, reflection, retrospection and good stories.

That's why today I'm sharing one of the special stories that brings us closer to the magic of teams. Enjoy??

In 1947, a team of six men and a parrot set out on a long, uncharted and uncertain journey across the Pacific from Peru to the Polynesian Islands.

Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian explorer and zoologist born in 1914, had developed a theory of the discovery of the Polynesian islands from South America that fundamentally contradicted the scientific understanding of the time.

Because of his conviction and the rejection of his theses by the scientific world of the time, he decided to prove with a small team of various personalities, that the indigenous peoples had mastered the long sea route from Peru to Polynesia using the simplest means.

He and his five companions set sail on April 28, 1947, with a raft made of balsa wood, named after an old sun god of the ancient people - equipped with a small hut, a rudder, a sailing mast and tons of coconuts.

After 101 days on the Pacific, the team on its Balsa raft, the "Kon-Tiki", reached the Polynesian shores.

What we can learn from the story of Thor Heyerdahl?

An expedition needs more than just a plan, the financial means to carry it out and a scientific foundation.

Rather, it is about the people, the leader, and the team striving to achieve the specific goal of the journey of discovery.

So, what should we focus on in our expeditions when considering the story of Thor Heyerdahl?

Why

A project that is supposed to be successful in the end not only needs a goal and knowledge of how to get there, but more so the reason why we do what we do. Thor Heyerdahl had a theory that was plausible and understandable to him. He was convinced of this and thus united a strong team behind him and his idea.

"A why helps us to recognize the deeper meaning of our actions and to create strength, staying power and strong cohesion in the team."

Vision

At the beginning of their journey was a vision to reach the goal. The team didn't know what to expect along the way. However, the vision and the conviction behind it were so strong that they took the risk to make the vision a reality.

"Without a vision, we often lack the compass to derive clear decisions, goals and our approach. A vision gives teams and leaders direction and a sense of possible paths.“

Trust

The team trusted each other 100%. This fact made the expedition with the Kon-Tiki possible in the first place and made it in the end a success. In challenging situations, mutual trust is a key to achieving common goals.

“Trust is the difference between a group of people and a team. Trust in the abilities of each individual in the team is the foundation in order for everyone to rely on each other. And in my perspective the basis for trust is the assumption by the individual, that everyone else on the team has the best of intentions. Only a foundation of trust creates the willingness to take risks working within the team and therefore to take the next step beyond the horizon.“

Courage

Were Thor and his team brave? Certainly, they were - anyone who embarks on such an expedition shows great courage. After all, they didn't know what to expect on their raft over the high seas, without reliable experience with the handling of their transportation in waves and wind, over a distance of approx. 6500 nautical miles and dark shoals.

“How often do we, as a team or as managers, find ourselves at a crossroads, knowing full well that one of the paths leads over well known, familiar terrain while the other path is beyond view, difficult to access and full of curves? However, our gut feeling tells us very clearly that we cannot reach our goal via the road well-traveled, that the current best choice is the alternate path.

Deciding to take the first step on this new path takes courage and determination. And before every bend, we can come to the next decision, without being able to see where the path leads. With every new decision we take on potential risks that require even more courage. But without these decisions and the willingness to take on risks, we won’t know where the path will lead us, what lies over the horizon.

Outstanding managers exemplify courage and enCOURAGE their teams to try out different things and to make decisions.“

Personality & Character = Diversity?

Thor had assembled his team from a wide variety of characters which he had come to know and appreciate throughout his life. All the team members had special skills that he recognized as essential for this expedition. One thing they all shared above all else was the attraction of expeditions and the irrepressible will to take risks for their beliefs.

"Different personalities always bring different skills and abilities, which we as managers or as a collective team can introduce to the team. These are not always learned skills, rather we should also pay attention to so-called human skills, such as humor, listening, interpreting perspectives and feelings or simply being present. Ultimately, however, every manager must possess the skill to be able to give the right tasks to the right people.“

In addition to all these insights, one driving force in particular is essential for all expeditions that people embark on again and again.

It is curiosity, “always questioning the status quo” and the enthusiasm to discover new horizons.

With this in mind, I wish you a peaceful and relaxing end to the year.

...and of course curiosity and excitement for the new year 2025!

Best regards,

Jens

You need assistance with your team?

Would you like to do something good for your team's growth?

You experience challenges, problems and conflicts in your team?

“Unconventional. Interactive. Inspiring. A new experience of team development.”

The Wave(s) Model by Silent Waves

https://www.silentwaves.team/

??...Do you know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Then please share it with this person.

If you want to receive this newsletter in german language, please subscribe ???? here.

Credits go to * Kon-Tiki Museet , Bygd?ynesveien 36, 0286 Oslo | Norway

A place you definitely have to visit when travelling norway...a wonderful and inspiring place ??