Leadership in the Alps

Recently, I undertook a full week?training in crisis?management at the "CNISAG" Chamonix center. The CNISAG is affiliated with a special branch of high mountain french police?the "PGHM". It was created in 1958 and has been spreading amazing values since... Some figures: A 1000 yearly heliported assistance exits?and more than 50000 saved lives since creation.?In recent years they were acting in the shadows of Major crisis such as "German Wings Plane Crash" and " the 2012 Mont Blanc Avalanche" ....

The immersive experience in this world has expanded my emotional and physical resources as I went through it in silence and contemplation. Some might think of it as another midlife crisis revelation !! but more on a serious note, It turned out to be an amazing gift life offered me as I turned 40 in march.

?I was not expecting this to be one of the most valuable leadership?lessons to breath in when immersed in the Alps hostile environment... Experiencing this first hand, with fellow trainees,?imposed humility confronting nature?and?self management facing own limitations. On the last day of training we undertook a full day, in snowshoes, a 1000 m mountain ascension under harsh weather conditions with our own personel apprehentions that added onto our full backpack weight.

The exercise was combined with victim assistance scenarios and survivor avalanche search to deepen the challenge. Stress built up because of tierness, muscle cramps and low visibility while -13 C temperature were reached before finding refuge.

?Over the course of our journey, four essential learning emerged in my mind: Leaders should be led by the group’s needs; inaction in crisis leads to paralysis and certain failure, acknowledging limitations leads to an alternative successfull path, Humanity is the common denominator that federates efforts and motivation.

On that last point, the dedication of the PGHM on?preserving human life was a common denominator worthy of our motivation and full admiration. Shared experiences by these professionals on Split second decisions, stepping back for weighing vital risks, finding the best case scenario given the evolving uncertainty.... have clearly inspired and paved the way for us to achieve purposeful potential in the future.

I would like to thank my fellow adventurers for all the wonderfull exchanges Gregoire Jacoud Natashka Seetaloo?Florent PASCAL?Vincent BESSE?Mylène Murail?Audrey Arrivetx?Olivier Perrichon?Romain PORTELLI?Xavier Martin?Jean-Michel Hubert?Tom Pullen?Elena Zuykova?Yann Chevalier?Alexandre Moret?Alexandre Raillard?Boussad Issad?Aurelien Amblard?Alexandre Visage?Eduardo da Fonseca

And finally i would like to express my gratitude to the CNISAG/HEC team that made this amazing experience possible. ?Jér?me GRANGE, Christian Comte,?Sébastien Grandclement,?David Rastouil??and Magdalena Rawecka.