theceomagazine.com | 37ENDURANCE CHALLENGE
John Gans has been leading the National Outdoor
Leadership School in the US for 22 years. He espouses
the lessons about leadership that can be learned in the
unpredictable, challenging and dynamic wilderness – all
of which translate to a business environment. He points
to a 2008 University of Utah study that focuses on the
long-term benefits of wilderness education. It found
that adventure education leads not only to outdoor
and survival skills but also critical leadership skills such
as strategic planning, communicating positively, and
effective handling of difficult circumstances.
Pushing yourself physically, in a group and with
an end goal in sight, not only improves personal
endurance and fitness levels but also benefits you as
a leader. Di Westaway, CEO of Wild Women on Top
in Australia, inspires people to add adventure to their
lives through hiking challenges. The organisation runs
Coastrek, which is a 30- or 60-kilometre group
fundraising challenge. The event has a corporate option
to encourage team building and involves a 12-week
fitness program, culminating in the big hike.
“Coastrek is about teamwork. In nature, we are
motivated to work together against the elements, and
in doing so we uncover deep strengths in ourselves and
others,” says Westaway. You push through physical and
mental barriers to learn grit and resilience, she adds.
“I think it’s essential for business leaders to expand and
improve their leadership outside the workplace. Many
of the most extraordinary leaders I know gain their deep
wisdom from their experiences beyond the office.”
“ ONE THING SHACKLETON DID
VERY WELL WAS TO REVISE
AND RESET HIS OBJECTIVES
AS THE CONTEXT CHANGED.”- PROFESSOR NANCY KOEHN,
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
HORSE WHISPERING
Learning to connect with horses can be beneficial to
how you connect with humans too. Based in the US,
Salamander Resort and Spa offers a personal discovery
equestrian program, Equi-Spective, to help people
learn more about their communication and leadership
style through hands-on sessions with horses.
Working with horses means learning respect-based
leadership. Rather than leading through intimidation
and fear, the best results come from listening, being
consistent, being clear. And also not allowing yourself
to be pushed around.
In Brazil, Maria Dalva Oliveira Rolim facilitates
horse leadership training as a partner at Global Equus.
She gave a powerful talk at TEDxSaoPaulo on the
leadership lessons that becoming a horse trainer taught
her, and how these improved her as a businesswoman.
You must respect others before you gain their
respect, says Oliveira Rolim, who is also president of
Enterprise Logistics. And when working with these
huge creatures, where communication is non-verbal,
she adds, this lesson of mutual respect, trust and how
to work together is quickly learned.