It's fast turning into winter in the northern hemisphere, over 2 feet of snow above 10K elevation. The mtn. resorts are blowing snow like crazy, at least at night. We'll be skiing and riding in bounds all over the rockies in just a matter of days now. The snow makes me smile every bit as much as a warm beach day with a six foot swell grinding. Both offer amazing fields of learning. The cool thing about the mountains is that they're always there. The fickleness of waves is even when they're running there's only one set at a time and each set creates sincere competition... the phrase "fighting for a wave" is just, real.
All the above is swimming in my mind as I get ready for another winter season of class offerings using skiing, riding and mountains as metaphor for leadership and life lessons. The Durga Institute has evolved into Miick Institute. Our leadership offerings have evolved to also include training and development for facilitators, trainers, coaches, and managers. More and more I see great leadership as having the ability to also be a great participant... active, engaged, aware, awake, conscious of attitude and actions that get "us" somewhere.
Another lovely irony of the working in the mountain environment is that getting somewhere is sometimes going inside, not indoors, but inside, looking in a mirror, watching, feeling, paying attention to, personal choices, attitudes and actions. The other way cool thing about the mountains, especially in winter is that if I pretend to be oblivious, unconscious, I can easily end up, uh, dead. Even, inbounds a resort. This would not be my personal choice, likely it wouldn't be yours...
What else as we begin our winter training sessions? We have a series of 1 day sessions being offered as well as our multiple day programs. Come and join me and my team. Learn how to move a group, facilitate a meeting, deal with conflict, provide feedback and delegate more effectively. Oh, by the way, you'll get more adept at moving down a mountain and through varied terrain at the same time.
Over the northern hemisphere summer and fall, I've been thinking long and hard about what Miick does, and why what we do works. Here's a quick summary (and I promise I'll get back to the mountains and adventure sports as a teaching/learning tool):
I am finding myself interested in the group dynamic of why our work works. What keeps getting clearer is that regardless of the kind of organization, the more clearly I/one can pre-define what we're about to step into, the more likely I/you will not be caught by surprise. We're more likely to end up with a fit.
The same outcome will be as effective in conservative, passive, do what you're told types of organizations. In my experience, these types organizations tend to be more likely to have you figure their culture out through trial and error. My choice is "no surprises thank you very much," we create dynamic-highly active participatory leader-follower-leader type organizations that move fast, smart, looking for minimal mistakes and constant course correction, with high reliability!!!
Tied to this high performance thing, a colleagues asked me this morning, if some of my references to high reliability and high performance had anything to do with "Managing the Unexpected"? Yes, what a great book! And what a great model! I do my best to live by this... !!!! Paying attention to "Bolts on the deck" (get the book and you'll know what I'm referring to) and all that... NOT zero defect...
I am beginning to realize that most "miick tools" are superb tracking systems, designed to build energy and focus. Each and all keep us on course, constantly vigilant and actively engaged at the same time! I personally love the proactive, rather than reactive. All we're doing in what we're sharing is in the name of supporting leaders, teams, and facilitators all to create an experience, that blows the mind in anticipatory service and care, excellence in product. Doesn't matter the industry.. really.
The mountains provide us an adventure play ground. The adventure playground provides a class room in which one is simply unable to stay only intellectual. The environment and adventure sport elements demand total engagement: mind, body, heart soul. So, each of us, gets to be more conscious of choices. Is what I'm doing effective? Am I in balance, centered, moving with forces beyond my control or fighting them? BIg questions here, equally big opportunity for fun, real learning...
I'm more convinced all the time that the real choice in our 21st century, eco/econo-shock world is to be conscious or not. If I'm conscious, I will have choices, If I'm oblivious and simply stay in my old habits, unconscious... watch out dudes and dudettes, there's an avalanche right around the ridge line, just waiting for us to slide into obliviously.
Come and join me! www.miickinstitute.com
Let me know if any of this random thought writing is making sense for you! I'd appreciate hearing. I am doing my best to be conscious after all!
R
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