As
the external environment is often unpredictable, a perfectly crafted
strategy is only relevant for brief moments in time. The best
mountain climbers know that strategies need to be in constant
evolution as you progress towards the summit and external factors
continue to change. Your business environment can be just as harsh
and volatile as being on the side of an 18,000ft mountain. Weather
patterns can change at a moment's notice and unexpected storms
can delay ascents. A foothold can give way or equipment may fail.
In these cases, climbers, like businesses, must quickly devise
alternative strategies or face the potential of a perilous outcome.
The
similarities between mountaineering and business leadership have
been studied for decades. From achieving individual peak performance
to reaching organizational summits, mountains represent the ultimate
classroom for planning, managing, teambuilding, decision-making
and communicating. Mountaineering is where strategy meets implementation,
and execution is essential to reaching the summit.
