Personal Growth: Mountain Climbers Don’t Climb Alone

How are you supporting your personal development journey?  

A few years ago, I was selected for the Executive Leadership Program of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises.  Ron Young was my executive coach and I still appreciate that season of accelerated personal development.

Part of the program involved Outward Bound; this executive leadership expedition took our group of 10 to North Carolina and Pisgah National Forest, Linville Gorge. 

The four-day wilderness adventure presented most of the members in our group an opportunity to do things we had never done before.  In addition to back-packing, I enjoyed my first rappelling and rock climbing experiences…yes, that’s me with the red helment on starting my descent.

During the course of our expedition we received on-the-spot leadership lessons while planning and executing a real mountaineering expedition. Everything from inclement weather to group dynamics impacted and directed the challenges we faced.

We shared responsibility for the leadership and communication dynamics of our team, while the guides served as safety officers and mentors.  The expedition was a significant source of learning and discovery. 

The experience impacted my life and leadership. I returned to home with my “Lessons from the Forest”.  I won’t go into detail now, but here they are:

1. The Foundation of Trust
2. The Necessity of Risk
3. The Power of Focus
4. The Strength of Teamwork
5. The Simplicity of Life

The Next Level Journey is about growth and “the opportunity to do things” you’ve never done before.  The preparation, the challenge, the experience, the victory are all part of my story now.

What does it take for you to achieve your next level in life?

Mountain climbers don’t climb alone.  Everyone needs help and encouragement, in a word: support.  The greater your challenge is the greater the need for support.

In mountaineering this is about securing the climber’s rope.  To belay the climber, his rope is fastened or controlled by wrapping it around a metal device or another person.  This provides support for the climber to take greater risk in his climb or descent. 

Trust is critical to the relationship. Together the teamwork allows the climber to focus on his climb knowing he is supported.

Here I start my climb while on belay 

Who is your belay? 

One of my coaching exercises focuses on my client’s “Support System”.     

We explore three levels of support…how would you answer?

1. What do you do for you, that you can do by yourself to support your well being?
2. Who is in your inner circle…they understand you, can ask the tougher questions, while believing in you?
3. What else is in your world that charges your batteries and supports your determination?

There is a lot of life going on these days.  So whether you think of this in terms of your next level at work, in your career, on that big project, or in everyday life support is critical to your success.

Remember, mountain climbers don’t climb alone.

What do you think?

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Before you go, how are you supporting your personal development journey?  

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