What I learned about Leadership While Hiking with my Family in Glacier

Preparation/Planning

1. Get Out of the Parking Lot

a.? ? ? Hiking requires a lot of pre planning before heading out. There are maps to study, other hikers to encounter, and displays offering guidance on? the great variety of activities you can do out on the hike. Most of the hikers who make the long drive don’t venture very far from the well-trodden road, whether due to intimidation or a lack of motivation. The masses? are there to see the basics and not too much more. To encounter? the best views and freshest experiences, one must push themselves. You must step? out of the crowds, away from the parking lot, and into the wilderness.? If you stay too long in the parking lot, procrastination may set in as you wait for others to take the great leap. You can get bare minimum satisfaction? with what is just off the paved road and be satisfied with just good enough, thereby passing up on excellent. To avoid this pitfall, you have to start the hike. To start the hike, you have to stop planning; you have to stop delaying; you have to get out of the parking lot.

b.? ? ? Leaders face problems daily. Some of the issues are small. Some are not. To begin resolving a problem, you have to start? on the solution. Don’t fall prey to death by analysis; instead, embrace courageous humility and know that once you begin, you will be able to figure the challenges that lay ahead of you. Planning and strategy have their place, but leadership forms once you get out of the parking lot and on the trail.

1. Check the Weather

a.? ? ? This should be obvious, but it is not. We sometimes forget that we will not be a moment away from a doorway. We duck into an Uber that can get us back to our home to wait out the storm. Out in the wilds, weather changes quickly, even in the summer. A front can move in, taking the temperature down to uncomfortable levels if you are not prepared. The skies can open up, and those big beautiful clouds can cast down rains that will make you scurry to end your hike prematurely before you have reached your objective, whether it be the summit, overlook, or glassy lake.? It only takes a minute to know the weather and pack the correct gear. Before you begin your hike, take a moment and check the weather.

b.? ? ? As leaders, we call upon others to follow us to places that we may have seen but only been able to describe to others. We ask for trust and belief from others. We sometimes forget that those we lead have plans too. Before beginning a significant initiative or rolling out a new idea, take time to learn the organization's climate. Is this the best time to start a new idea? Are those in your organization who will be most affected by the change actually ready for the change? Have you adequately equipped those you lead to weather any storms so that they can reach the summit? Before attempting any significant change, check the weather. Find out about the culture and the environment? of the organization. This check will allow you to pack accordingly and properly equip those you wish to bring with you.

3.? ? ? Toughen Your Skin, or Bring Water Shoes

a.? ? ? After hiking through the heat and past your anticipated level of exhaustion, an? oasis of glacial lakes waits just beyond the shore. However, there are often sharp and slippery rocks just off the bank waiting to tear into your skin if you move too fast or knock you down if your footing isn’t sure. To avoid such catastrophes, you must spend time callusing? up your skin for the moments when the rocks will unexpectedly appear. Walk barefoot when the stakes are small and hazards are easy to avoid to prepare yourself against the jagged edges? that will inevitably? come. Learn how to walk light? if needed so that when you slip, you can recover. When you enter the water’s edge to dive into a well-earned cooling pool, you don’t want to be derailed by the smallest stones just offshore. Work on toughening up your skin, or bring water shoes.

4.? ? ? Don’t Pass up the Heavily Trafficked Areas for the Sake of Innovation. They are Crowded Because They are Great Hikes.

a.? ? ? There is a tendency to avoid well-trafficked hikes and venture out on your own just for the sake of venturing out on your own. While there is nothing wrong with deviating from the path and venturing out just to get some respite from crowds with a needed solo hike, you must remember that the crowded hikes are crowded for a reason. These are the hikes mentioned in the guide books, recommended by locals, and sought out for that once-in-a-lifetime moment because they are worth it and have proven their value? over and over again. The iconic trails of any park will only be empty when the weather pushes the most dedicated adventurers indoors. . Do not avoid hikes just because of crowds. They are crowded because they are worth the effort.

b.? ? ? Many leaders, especially young leaders, want to innovate just for the sake of innovation or to put their stamp on an organization. While there is merit in finding your path and making an organization your own, don’t forget to use the wisdom of tried and true methodologies. You don’t have to find a new way each time. The leaders (mentors, authors, etc.) who have gone before you can show you the potholes and have a lot of wisdom to impart. Don’t neglect this advice. Learn from their journey and avoid the potholes. Sometimes the best course of action is to follow others.

5.? ? ? Be Sure Your Communication Systems are in Proper Working Order.

a.? ? ? When you get out of range of cellphone towers, you will still need to communicate with those in your hiking party. This is usually? a set plan made? beforehand, whether a series of hand signals, or (for those techie hikers) a pair of walkie-talkies, or maybe even as simple as a whistle.? No matter what system you choose, you want to ensure that it is well understood and in good working order. The last thing you want to be doing after a great hike is standing in the parking lot, trying to remember if you said you would meet at the car or near the visitor center, especially when the vehicle is parked a mile down the road… and you don’t have the keys.

b.? ? ? In leadership, most of the errors we make are due to a lack of communication or the assumption that communication has taken place. As the leader, it is your job to define a communication plan with your customers and within the organization. How will email be used? Do you have an Open-Door policy? When should you be called about a situation outside of working hours? Who talks to the press? What is said when someone answers the phone? If someone has a question about a policy, where can they find the answer? All of these questions will help to refine and clarify your vision and the mission of the organization.

6.? ? ? Take What You Need & Begin with What you Have—Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

a.? ? ? The adage, “You can’t have it all,” has its place in hiking. While it might be nice to have some of the newest gadgets for hiking, it is most important to have the essential items—a good pair of shoes/boots, comfortable clothes, sun protection, water, food, a map, and a compass. By beginning the journey with what you have rather than what you think you need or want, you will find that what you have is sufficient. Your creative juices flow when all you have is strapped to your back. Don’t delay the start of a hike just because you think you need something. Begin the trek, take what you have, and figure out what you need next time. Be flexible and think about how to repurpose what you have when a need arises—necessity is the mother of invention.

b.? ? ? You will never be fully prepared to lead your organization. As a leader tomorrow, the problems you will face will take out-of-the-box thinking and not be hypothetical that was studied in a classroom or explained in a book. You are a leader; you have what you need, a way of critically thinking about the organization’s needs, and a disposition for getting others to follow your vision. These are the essential items necessary for leadership. Equipped with these tools, you will figure out what is needed and how to get it done. The most important lesson is, to begin with, what you need and take what you have. Don’t delay. Your organization needs you to lead.

On the trail

7.? ? ? Feed Your Crew

a.? ? ? No matter how far you are hiking, bring some food for you and the crew. There will inevitably be a time when someone (usually a teen) asks for a snack break. . You want to be able to respond with a resounding yes for two reasons: 1) You don’t want anyone bonking on the hike just a few miles in, 2) Bringing food shows that you are thinking about others’ needs and leading the hike. While sharing food, this is a great time to ask about the hike, reflect on what they saw, plan future hikes; In other words, decide on how you will spend more time together. Food builds an opportunity for connection. Feed your crew.

b.? ? ? As a leader, your job is to set a vision, communicate the vision, connect with those you lead, and support the people in your organization to reach the vision you have laid out. Everything that you accomplish as a leader will be through others. Spending time with the people you lead while eating is an excellent way to learn about the organization’s real needs. Where are the struggles? What is working? Meals allow the hierarchical divisions to fade away so that you can spend personal time laughing, learning, and connecting. As leaders, you have to show compassion and care for those you lead. Food is a natural way to meet this need—feed your crew.

8.? ? ? Bring Chocolate

a.? ? ? After a long hike, when your body is exhausted, and you just want to stop and take in the view for a while, the little extravagances of life become multiplied. While teens could quickly devour two or three chocolate bars by themselves, especially after a strenuous hike, the eagerness to overindulge fades briefly and they become more? willing to share in the small pleasures of? a small bite of chocolate. The fact that you brought this delectable sweet treat? to share on top of a mountain shows a simple caring gesture that you are thinking about your hiking party beyond their basic needs.

b.? ? ? As a leader, chocolate represents the little things that go a long way. Chocolate represents care, gratitude, and acknowledgment. It serves no other purpose other than to say to the receiver, “I was thinking of you and wanted you to know that.” While I recommend the practice of surprising staff with chocolate every once in a while, I insist that you find other small tokens to show your appreciation. Get in the practice of writing personal thank you notes, acknowledge your staff in public, shout out victories via press releases and social media. These small acts of kindness, just like chocolate, are recognized and appreciated by those in the organization, those whom the organization serves, and those who might be interested in joining the organization. Everyone likes to be pampered, acknowledged, appreciated—bring chocolate, not because you have to, but because you want to.

9.? ? ? Respect the Wildlife, but Bring your Bear Spray

a.? ? ? While out hiking, you need to have a healthy respect for wildlife. You are hiking in their backyard.? You should follow specific protocols: 1) Let them know you are coming by announcing your presence through noise (dialogue, a bear bell, etc.), 2) When you see wildlife in its natural habitat, be respectful. 3) Give space; remember, you are the visitor and don’t have the most precise picture of what is happening. 4) Keep your movements small and show a calm demeanor in order to not startle any creatures. 5) Appreciate the wildlife, but move on. In the rare instance that you are charged or confronted by a wild animal, don’t be afraid to use your bear spray. You need to keep yourself and your family safe, so know how to use it, and be ready. Respect the wildlife, but bring your bear spray.

b.? ? ? As the leader of an organization, it is essential that you understand all aspects of the organization that you lead.? You have to take an active role in getting out of your office and learning about your organization. Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon, spent the first six months on the job in franchises, working and baking alongside owners to get a better picture of what the company needed. While out in the field, it is essential to follow the same rules for hiking with wildlife: 1) Let people know you're coming to learn, 2) be respectful by asking questions to learn about choices and decisions that are being made “on the ground” or “in the trenches,” 3) give space and allow the work to continue, just because you showed up doesn’t mean there needs to be a dog and pony show, 4) When visiting, this is not the time to give coaching, you can reflect later, keep your movements small, 5) Don’t linger, those you lead are much more aware of the power dynamic than you are. Your presence changes the ecosystem if you stay for too long. You have to allow the work to continue. Again the time for evaluation and reflection will come later. However, do not be afraid to act if you are confronted by an angry employee or see something you must rectify immediately. You are the leader and every interaction you have is seen by everyone else in the organization. Be respectful of the wildlife—but don’t be afraid to use bear spray.

10.? Stay Humble

a.? ? ? When hiking, you will get in a zone. Some call this a “runner’s high.”? Your endorphins are pumping (or whatever it is they do) and you feel like you could keep hiking for several more hours because you are, quite frankly, killing it. Then you are brought back to reality? when someone much younger, or worse, significantly older, with? half the gear as you comes around the corner proclaiming? they just finished a “plus one”? ( a pre planned hike plus one more mile). For me, this was a family of four doning rubbery? Croc sandals hiking down callous conditions. There will always be someone who has been where you plan to go, who has gotten there with less, and achieved the same if not better results. To stay within your limitations, you must remember to remain humble.

b.? ? ? As a leader, humility is of the utmost importance. You have to embrace a beginner’s mindset and stay curious about what is happening in your organization and what is happening within your field. You can learn from everyone. As a leader, you also need to be a steady presence for your organization. To do this, you have to keep your emotions in check and try not to spend too much time celebrating at the peaks or struggling through the valleys. Humility should be your guide. There will always be another leader or organization achieving similar results with fewer resources and under more demanding conditions. This is not an invitation to despair; this is an invitation to learn. What are they doing, how are they doing it, and how can you get your organization moving in the same way? Once you think you have it all figured out, you need to keep learning. You need to stay humble.

11.? Stop at the Overlooks

a.? ? ? While hiking, you may be tempted to get into a “just get to the end” mentality and push past the overlooks. I caution you against this pattern because it is the journey that matters. The trail builders who had come before you took great pains to decide where to position overlooks and make sure that anyone on the trail gets the full majesty of the view. By blowing past overlooks, you are not giving yourself a chance to reflect, pause, catch your breath or appreciate what you have accomplished. Be good to yourself and stop at the overlooks.

b.? ? ? As a leader, you have to make sure that you don’t fall prey to goal fatigue. You are the goal setter. As your team is working to accomplish the goals that you have set forth, you have to allow for time to measure progress and let the team celebrate what they have accomplished. If you just push your team from goal to task to goal, the long-term result will be burnout. You must recognize the hard work it took to reach each progressive step and give everyone on the team the opportunity to see how far they have come by pausing and calling attention to incremental milestones along the way.?

12.? Remember the Terrain Will Vary

a.? When hiking, you will come across various types of terrain. No warning sign could accurately prepare you for? the different ebbs and flows of the land? that you might encounter out on the path..? Your job is to keep your eye on the trail and ensure that a root doesn’t jump out and take you down.? Even if the hike is easy, it doesn’t mean it can’t make you look dumb.? While hiking, keep your eye out for variations in the terrain. One misstep can ruin the rest of the hike.

b.? Leaders need to know that even the most routine tasks can vary and need your full attention.? It is imperative to remain present and available to situations that could go sideways.? Just as the terrain on a hike can vary greatly, conditions in your organization will change significantly.? People make up organizations, and people are emotional.? Personal emotions lead to organizational emotions, otherwise known as climate.? Rather than finding yourself falling off the side of a mountain, keep an eye on the trail to see the undulations of the terrain.? Remember, the terrain and situation will vary.

13.? Be Slow and Methodical—Multitasking Will Only Result in a Stumble

a.? When you reach fatherhood, and you are hiking with your teenage sons, you have to face facts; you are older than you once were--trying to multitask results in embarrassment and injury.? While hiking, there is no time to try and look up your map on your phone, try to remove your sweatshirt, or adjust your hiking poles.? Your reflexes are not as good as they once were, and you should avoid any attempts at multitasking. During a hike, if you need to do anything that requires more than minimal brain power or ability, just stop and get it done.? Anything else will result in a stumble.

b.? Leaders constantly have a list of tasks that need to be accomplished.? As you’re reading this article, you have probably already added several to-do’s to your list.? However, you need to stop.? Leaders always opine about having more time.? The key to getting more time is getting it done the first time and getting it done correctly.? The best way to do this is to work through tasks one at a time.? When a direct report is in front of you, put your phone down, engage.? Prepare yourself to do less in each moment so you can accomplish more in one day.? Multitasking will only result in a stumble.

14.? Know Your Limitations

a.? Before each hike, review how far the hike is and what type of conditions? you will experience.? Be sure that you understand what you are capable of doing before you begin your hike.? You don’t want to be the lagging guy on the hike holding everyone up at best or, at worst, need medical help to get you out.? When you know you are not physically up to the challenge, decline the hike.?

b.? Leaders need to understand that the task they are undertaking is not easy.? Leadership is hard, and you have to know what you are good at and where you need help.? If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask.? Leadership positions will elevate your strengths and magnify your weaknesses.? A true leader will know and will ask when they need help. ? Find someone else who has the skills you lack.? Know your limitations.

15.? Learn to See Possibilities

a. When hiking, you can only take so many items.? Depending on the size of your pack and the amount of weight you want to carry, you will undoubtedly end up taking less than what you may need for unexpected encounters.? This is an opportunity for you to begin thinking creatively and see the obstacles in front of you as possibilities.? While hiking, you may encounter a lake that you did not expect.? See the opportunities rather than assuming that you cannot jump in because you don’t have a towel afterward.? A shirt is just a differently-designed towel.? You must see the possibilities.? You will have much more regret if you don’t jump in the lake than if you have a damp shirt for the rest of the hike.?

b.? As you go through your leadership journey, you will encounter many situations that you never prepared for, and may have not thought possible. Your leadership preparation is not an exhaustive list of all the possible conditions that you may face.? It is about preparing to learn how to see distress as a possibility and learn how to use what is around you as a tool to solve the obstacle your team is facing.

16.? Lend a Hand to Those Behind You

a.? The best way to learn new skills is to pass them on.? We learn by doing, but we also learn by teaching.? As others are coming up the trail, be sure to let them know about any noteworthy sights that they may miss if they are just making their way along the path without the benefit of foresight.? Letting others know about extraordinary views or areas along the trail will set the image in your head and help put a visual stamp on the exploration.? You will remember the hikes you share with others more than the ones you go alone.

b.? Mentoring is essential to your development as a leader.? We learn and imprint the skills on our being when we teach others.? Mentoring those who you lead will help to refine your skills and multiply your leadership.? Leadership is influence.? The most significant impact we have is on those we teach. Be a role model for someone else coming up behind you and lend a hand.

17.? Listen to Others Who Have Been on the Trail

a.? You can learn a lot about hidden treasures and sights from those who have been on the trail.? Sometimes there is a view, a wildlife experience, or a break in the trail.? Ignoring this information can negatively impact your hike.

b.? Find a mentor who has been in your situation before.? Leaders have lonely positions because they are the ones building the map for the organization.? In other words, you are out front charting the course while everyone else depends on you to find the way.? A mentor or coach can help you navigate the way.? Someone who has been through these experiences can help to give your perspective and help you build the map.

18.? Do the Thing That Scares You—You May Not Be Back—Don’t Live with Regret

a.? There will be times on the trail when you encounter an opportunity where you get to explore? a spot that very few? will ever see.? This is one of the benefits of hiking; you find? places that most miss? when you push the? opportunity to continue with a hike, fear aside.? I am not advocating for danger.? I am advocating that you push past your fear.? When you are hiking, you have to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.? You may never get another opportunity to come back.

b.? Leadership can often be scary.? You constantly face situations that you probably have not met before, and this can often be overwhelming.? Do not retreat from the opportunity because of your fears.? You must think of the benefits to the organization.? If you are passing on a chance because of your anxiety, this is not leadership.? Although you may be the only one who knows that you passed on the opportunity, you will damage your leadership credibility and regret the decision later.? Even if you're scared, you have to leap.

19.? Don’t be Afraid to Look Foolish

a.? My teenage sons will disagree, but they think everyone is looking all the time.? It is okay to take a corny picture when you have conquered a hike and found a scenic oasis.? When you are tired and need to take a break, it is okay to put your hands on your hips.? When you see raw beauty, go ahead and express your amazement.? It is okay to look foolish.? Show your authenticity by expressing true feelings of awe and wonder.? It is okay.

b. As a leader, members in your organization want? to know three basic things about you: Can they trust you?? Will you respect them?? Will you keep them safe?? The best way to answer all these questions is to be authentic.? Don’t be afraid to show your goofy side, be silly, and have genuine reactions.? The days of the stoic leader are gone.? Leaders connect sentimentally? and lead through emotion.? Connect with others by taking down your guard and allowing yourself to be foolish.

20.? Don’t be Afraid to Use a Pole—A Little Support is a Good Thing

a.? Hiking is strenuous on your joints.? Trails are uneven; often with drastic? changes in elevations.? To stay on the hike for the long haul, take a trekking pole.? Novice hikers did not make these trails.? They were created by hikers who wanted to recover faster, last longer, and enjoy hiking more.? You are not showing weakness by using a tool to help absorb some of the bumps along the way.? It is okay to lean on the support and use a pole.

b.? As a leader, you have a tremendously difficult job.? There are many tasks that only you can do and many tasks that you think only you can do.? This paradox is a major downfall for many leaders.? Find the jobs that only you can do and do those.? Find someone else who can do the other tasks and develop their leadership skills by allowing them to do these tasks.? This shows courage and understanding.? It shows courage because you are allowing others to take the lead.? It shows understanding because you value the team’s longevity, and you want to build up skills in others so you can all play the long game.? Don’t be afraid to ask for help; a little support is a good thing.

21.? Stop Every Once in? a While to Look at the Scenery.

a. Since we already established that while you are hiking, that should be your only focus , you will need to stop occasionally? to absorb? the scenery.? After all, this is one of the reasons that you are hiking.? While admiring the view, bring it to the attention of your family and have them enjoy the scenery with you.? If you set out on a hike and just focus on that, you are missing out on the journey.? Stopping at the overlooks also allows you and others to catch their breath, get a drink of water, and realize that even if they didn’t want to come on the hike, they have certainly accomplished something.? Who knows, you might even get a verbal affirmation and thank you (to those of you with teenagers, trust me, it can happen).?

b.? Your organization is working to accomplish a goal.? Anything worth achieving is going to cause you and your organization some pain to get it done.? As the leader, you need to stop your team every once in and while to recognize the hard work that you have collectively accomplished.? Even though you are not at the peak, where you took great effort to get to and therefore worth looking out over, stop every once and a while to enjoy the scenery.

Looking Back

22.? Reflect/Celebrate on What You Have Accomplished/Make Statements About What is Ahead

a.? When you are hiking with teenagers, it is essential to keep things in the moment and carefully evaluate when you provide more information.? When you reflect, steer in the direction of? what has been accomplished and relish the victories.? Make statements about what is ahead rather than asking questions.? Asking questions can invite negativity.? Rather than asking, “Doesn’t this feel great? Should we continue?” Make the statement, “You are all doing great.? We have two more miles left.”?

b.? Leaders connect to emotions.? You need to make sure that you connect to positive emotions by reminding your team members about what they have accomplished and how you are all building momentum towards the ultimate goal.? However, you cannot be satisfied with staying at that level.? You need to keep moving your team forward.? To move the team forward, make statements about what still needs to be accomplished rather than asking questions.? You can move the team forward by showing that you see the potential and possibility they have within themselves. Show your team that you have faith in them.? Gain their trust in this process by recognizing when they have accomplished something great and meaningful.? Regularly reflect on what has been accomplished and celebrate the victories.? Connect emotionally by showing your teammates that you will honor their accomplishments and still have faith that they can achieve more.

23.? Evaluate at Plateaus, Not in the Moment.

a.? When your lungs are burning, and your thighs are screaming, you might want to think twice about asking if everyone is having a great time.? While this might be your idea of a good time, it might not necessarily be the general consensus? of everyone else in your family.? It is better to wait until the trail is level, there is a beautiful vista, and everyone has gotten a chance to have a drink of water and a much-needed rest.? Chances are, you will get a more positive reaction if you evaluate at the plateaus and not at the moment.

b.? While leading a team through a difficult stretch, you want to use evaluation carefully.? When we are in the forest, it is difficult to see the trees.? When we are in the midst of a tough stretch taxing us, it can be challenging to see our way out and through.? As the leader, you are the keeper of the vision.? While in these tough spots, you must continue to push your team forward by supplying encouragement and resources.? When your team has reached a goal or benchmark, this is when you can evaluate the progress.? Very few of us are motivated by evaluation at the moment.? At the moment, we are doing our best and need support.? After the moment has passed, we can take coaching/evaluation and learn how to improve it.

24.? If You Do it Correctly, the Experience Should Have a Bigger Impact on You Than It.

a.? Every trail has a “Leave no Trace” sign.? The directive is clear but lost on most.? Let the trail change you, but be careful to leave it intact for others.? Once you are off the trail, your impact should be internal.?

b.? As a leader, you will be changed much more than you change your organization or others.? All great leaders will have a tremendous impact on the organizations they lead, but the most meaningful impact will occur within.? Every great leader is looking at how to grow themselves so that they can best serve the organization.? You must embody the vision and the mission of your organization.? To do this, you must change.? A leader immune to change is bound to fail.? Allow the journey to change you and prepare you for your next leadership journey.

Written by Ted Duncan after a six-month adventure on the road.

Special thanks to Erin Brewton for her final edits.

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