In my small hometown, winter is serious business—think bitter cold that burns your lungs and freezes your car doors shut. I’d escape the valley chill by heading to the local ski resort, a family-owned mountain where you could get lunch and a lift ticket for less than the price of a tank of gas.
I spent many happy days on those slopes, fueled by clean air, speed under my skis and $5 hamburgers. Even now, the mountains are my respite. I do some of my best thinking there, and many of the lessons I’ve learned on the slopes have proven to be just as applicable in the boardroom.
As we enjoy some downtime this holiday season, I’d like to offer a few skiing-inspired tips to help us return to the office ready to meet the challenges and promise of a new year.
1. Compassion Guides the Way: Leading with Trust and Empathy
Ever heard the quote, “There are no friends on a powder day”? The excitement of a great snow day can overshadow consideration for those you’re skiing with. A friend of mine was in a new relationship and decided to take her significant other skiing. After a time or two on the bunny hill, she was eager to find some fresh snow and coaxed him into trying an advanced run. He exited the lift, took one look at the mountain below and decided he’d rather walk down, boots and all. After a long, cold trek back to the lodge, he announced he was done…with skiing and the relationship.
I’ve seen my share of these ski-day fails, so I try to make my wife as comfortable as possible on the slopes. Knowing that her enjoyment ends the minute she gets cold, I try to find the softest boots, the warmest gloves and a helmet wired for music, all in the name of ensuring that my favorite ski buddy wants to continue this hobby with me.
Leadership Takeaway:
The more we consider the well-being of our team, the better we’ll function together. Unsurprisingly, researchers have found that companies that score highest in employee happiness metrics often outperform others financially. Consider these tips as you prepare to lead your team down the challenging slopes of another new year.
Rethink Your Approach
It’s easy to slip into what my friend and colleague Stephen M.R. Covey calls a “command and control” approach to leadership. Do you clearly communicate expectations and trust that your team will rise to the challenge, or are you just issuing orders? The former invigorates, the latter stifles growth.
Connect to Purpose
A new year is the ideal time to reiterate your organization’s purpose. Does your team understand the impact and value of its work, both to customers and the company as a whole? Emphasizing the “why” helps keep morale high and teams engaged.
Appreciate Culture Contribution
As I wrote earlier this year, rather than expect employees to assimilate seamlessly into the workplace, value the ways that they challenge assumptions, approach problems from unique perspectives and connect with others. How can you recognize and reward employees for contributions that support your core principles, but might not fit within the norm?
2. Stay Focused on What’s Ahead
There are two words that strike fear into the heart of any skier. (No, not “snowboarders allowed,” or “parking full,” although those are strong contenders.) I’m talking about tree wells; deep pine tree hollows that fill with soft snow. The result is a quicksand-like effect that can envelop a skier who’s veered off trail. A friend of mine fell into one of these wells, and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank. He was lucky—after a cold and miserable hour or two, ski patrol dug him out and he ended the day with a humbling ride behind the patrol sled.
Leadership Takeaway:
As we approach a new year, this is the ideal time to refocus on the path. Set aside the day-to-day problems and minutia that can keep us from achieving our goals and create a course for the months ahead.
Set a Clear Vision
This principle is at the very heart of what we do at AlignOrg. First, determine if your organization has a clear strategy, and then evaluate if all the aspects of your organization are designed to support it. It goes without saying that if you can’t see the path ahead, the metaphorical tree wells become much harder to avoid.
Create Clear Decision Rights
Without clear decision rights, every fork in the road becomes an obstacle to your organization’s success. Think collaboration (employees understand who has responsibility for decisions and work together for the best possible outcome) not consensus (large groups try to arrive at agreement, and it is unclear who has the final say).
Anticipate Risks
Just as skiers scan for rocks, trees and yes, even the occasional bear, leaders should proactively look for obstacles. This should be a deliberate exercise—consider what actions you plan to take in the year ahead, explore possible side effects or reactions, then determine what counteractions you can employ to help mitigate the risks.
3. Embrace the Falls
There’s an old saying that goes, “If you’re not falling, you’re not skiing hard enough.” You have two options: get complacent, or push yourself and accept that there are going to be some falls in the process. It’s all part of the fun, even when it means getting a little fresh powder down the collar of your coat.
Leadership Takeaway:
Mistakes and challenges are an unavoidable part of business. The key is knowing how to get up, brush off and keep moving your organization toward its ultimate goals.
Foster Continuous Improvement
Even the top-of-the-line skis need a regular tune up, and even successful organizations need to continually evaluate their approach. Check regularly to make sure that all areas of your business are in alignment with strategy. This allows you to make small changes when needed, vs. an expensive and time consuming major realignment every few years.
Design for Resilience
Good fiscal management, Agile practices and alignment to strategy can help an organization absorb shocks and recover quickly. Think of it as your ski helmet, preventing minor mishaps and bumps in the path from turning catastrophic.
Celebrate Progress
Finally, recognize and reward efforts to improve, even after setbacks. This reinforces a growth mindset and keeps your team motivated to tackle greater challenges.
A Final Note Before the New Year
“Life is like skiing. Just like skiing, the goal is not to get to the bottom of the hill. It’s to have a bunch of good runs before the sun sets.” – Seth Godin
When we focus only on making it down the mountain, we miss the joy of the run itself. The real value comes from the challenges we overcome and the people beside us on the lift.
As we begin this new year, I encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the journey we’re sharing. Here’s to a year of sharp turns, fresh snow and many happy memories.
Top photo: On top of the world with my father (left) and my wife, Marci (right)
