Leaders--Climbing to the top_2719

gsvubmzqr · Wysłany: Pon 4:21, 21 Mar 2011 Temat postu: Leaders--Climbing to the top_2719

Have you ever lead by following? If leaders are the head of the group on the way to the top, what does the climb entail? When on my journey, I think about the summit and continually putting one foot in front of the next. Just perpetual movement forward. Sounds easy enough. If only that's all there were to it! Getting to the top involves mental and physical challenges. I experienced some of those challenges recently.
I had the opportunity to climb the Pinnacle at the Seattle REI store. At sixty-five feet high, it was the tallest free standing climbing structure in the world when it was built. A formidable family adventure for Jeff,juicy earrings, my husband; Alex, my 16 year old step son; and me. We arrived just at our reservation time. Then off to the task of finding a climbing harness and climbing shoes that fit and felt good. I was distracted when I found out that Alex was getting ready to commence his ascent. I quickly grabbed two pairs of shoes and dashed to the spectator spot. I tried on shoes while sending words of encouragement to Alex as he progressed. Alex moved constantly though somewhat cautiously up. Then he came to a place of prolonged deliberation. He tested different hand holds. He moved his feet to experience different locations sometimes on his own and sometimes in response to the guide's voice of experience from the bottom.
It was Alex's first time climbing. My mind raced. "If only I had gone first to model getting to the top. It is important to see a model when doing a physical activity for the first time." After 40 years of teaching skiing, I certainly knew that! Leaders model.
Alex kept testing. Finally he said he was coming down. Great first attempt! This was a person who as a young child was apprehensive about things that were new or different. He would retreat at pretty much anything unfamiliar and bigger than a soccer ball. Good job,men bbc jeans, Alex,Red Monkey jeans short!
It was now Jeff's turn. He scaled the Pinnacle once before slowly and deliberately to the top. Since that first time, he had problems with his shoulders. After briefly coming off the rock near the bottom,Ed Hardy necklace, Jeff took to the rock and the climb with amazing comfort.
My turn came. It was my third time with two successful summits completed. I tightened the harness. The guide tightened it more. She gave her stamp of approval on the harness, as she tied me in with a figure eight knot. I was now linked to her by my rope. This rope was now my lifeline.
I headed for the rock. I was determined. I took a couple of quick steps up the face. My next step was with my right foot. But somehow I missed the fact that the rock curved away from me at that point. I took the step. My left hand and foot swung off and away from the rock! I scurried to grab the rock again. I was back on. Thank you lifeline! Closely below me I heard the "good job" from the guide. I started breathing more evenly again. Leaders get back on track and continue.
I was back on my way. I consistently found hand holds and foot holds. Then I reached for a small hold from which I was able to get little grip. It was the best one in sight at that moment. My mind fled. It wanted off the rock. My mind wanted off the rock. "What am I doing up here climbing this rock? It is difficult!" My chatterbox mind squawked at me. I quickly got focused again. "I am up here because I want to get to the top. I want to get to the top because that is what I came here to do. That is the behavior I want to model." Leaders move past obstacles.
I came to the place Alex had floundered, acutely aware of his previous faltering. I climbed smoothly past that. I was intent. By now I was quite high off the ground. As I moved steadily forward, I called to my guide to keep my rope tight. She was the one taking up the slack as I moved forward. My steps were the same kind of steps that I made further down. There was the mental challenge of doing those same things further from the ground. They just felt more precarious 50 feet up! I increased my focus. The top was getting closer. I scanned for strong holds. Lower down any hold would do. Now I wanted definitive purchase with my feet and sturdy grips with my hands. The top was near. It felt like I held my breath as I took the last several steps. I reached up and rang the bell at the top! I made it! A moment of internal celebration! Leaders celebrate success.
My mind raced. I belayed down to the comfort and solidity of the ground. I hugged Megan with gratitude. Thanks, Megan, for being my guide. I felt so connected to her. She was there for me. She was ready to coach, encourage, advise, and most importantly save me as needed. Leaders are more effective when they use guides.
I had climbed to the top of the Pinnacle. I learned four lessons along the way. First, with respect to inexperienced participants, I will model or send a model of the desired behavior for that person to see. Second, when I fall, get up. I stumbled and then got right back on the rock. It can be easy to stay down with a stumble. Third, my desire has to be bigger than my reasons. My mind was there to keep me safe. Safe meant turning back. Safe meant giving up. I overcame these thoughts because I was clear in what I wanted. I was able to get focused after my mind had reacted. Fourth, I fully used my guide and was so grateful for her presence. Guides along the path are incredibly beneficial. The more they are used the greater the benefit. These are powerful leadership lessons to take on every climb. Necessary climbing equipment is more than just the physical. It is also important how one utilizes the mind, from the front and from the back.