There I was, on the trail of Camelback Mountain in Arizona! We hiked from the parking area clear to the top, and it felt amazing to arrive. The path up the mountain was little more than a gap between rocks, and we had to climb slowly, grabbing hold of boulders to navigate the steep path. When we finally reached the top, we were thrilled to see the wonderful view and catch our breath.
Finally, it was time to start back down the mountain, and I thought it would be simple. However, I soon realized that the hike down would be anything but simple. The path that was a steep climb going up was just as steep going down, and one wrong step could land you in the hospital or worse. Fear took hold as I tried to pick my way down the path. At one point, I almost froze, not knowing the best way down the mountain.
Just like this hiking experience, leaders are often faced with complex situations where there is no easy answer. How do you move forward in the midst of obstacles and chaos? There are lessons we can learn from experiences like mountain climbing. The first is to train yourself to focus on the next step. Trying to tackle too much at once can be paralyzing and cause us to procrastinate. Instead, breaking the process down into steps allows us to move forward.
Leaders can also hold opposites in tension with each other. When I was hiking up the mountain, we passed some people who said it would get easier. Others warned us not to continue, saying it was too hard. Both perspectives were partially correct but lacked knowledge of our ability to undertake such a huge climb. Leaders must understand their team’s abilities and needs so they can identify what is needed to allow them to progress toward their goal.
Finally, leaders must be committed to the journey and willing to persevere. The more important the goal, the more obstacles we will face. Challenges do not mean that leaders should stop; they mean that leaders need to invest in steps that will lead them to the top!
