Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Denali National Park in Alaska and get up-close-and-personal with Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. Now, spectacular mountains are nothing new to me; after all I make my home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada which is nestled in the foot of the Canadian Rockies. But Mt. McKinley was unique not only in its height, but also because of the way it stands out amongst the other topography around it. And given that Mt. McKinley’s peak is shrouded in cloud at least two-thirds of the time, we were especially fortunate to visit on a day when the skies were clear and the view fantastic.
All of which contributed to our excitement, and caused me to get into a whimsical discussion with our local guide about what advice a mountain might give us if it could speak. Here is our list:
- Reach for the sky and attain new heights.
- Enjoy the view while you climb to the top; there is beauty as far as the eye can see.
- Have a point. Get to the point.
- Be patient in your journey; majestic mountains were not created overnight.
- Be uplifting; help others scale the summit alongside you.
I found this list in a file folder on my desk just a few days ago. As I smiled my way down the list and recalled happy vacation memories, it occurred to me that these lessons from our mountain are also sage advice for leaders.
So what would you add to my “leadership lessons from a mountain” list? Please comment below.
Merge’s leadership development consultancy has one singular focus – to turn managers into leaders; to help great people become exceptional leaders so that they can turn their people power into real and tangible results. Through her speaking, training, consulting, mentoring and facilitation services, Merge helps leaders in organizations create high-performing workplaces.
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