Leadership in Business and Climbing

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 GravitySucks 23 Apr 2019

Ok Hive Collective, 

In an attempt to help out a family member who has an academic piece of work to complete around Leadership and Decision Making with reference to a personal interest, I thought that the world of climbing may hold some interesting analogies with the world of business. If those of you who have experience of the business world and indeed any areas where Leadership and Decision Making is 'key', might like to suggest some similies, metaphores and analogies that might be reflected in climbing, I will pass these on to a very grateful student.

Many thanks,  GS

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 Route Adjuster 23 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

Could take an angle looking at risk,  appetite,  tolerance, making decisions, commitment and living with the consequences ( or seeing things through to their conclusion).

 Mick Ward 23 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

An obvious example is Himalayan climbing, which went from classic command and control (French on Annapurna, British on Everest, Germans on Nanga Parbat) to a more inclusive style (e.g. Bonington on Everest, asking people whether they wanted Whillans (most didn't)) to a more modern, small team focussed approach. The command and control style precluded Shipton being selected as leader for the FA of Everest (no disrespect intended to Shipton or Hunt). It was pushed to its limits on the FA of Annapurna. And it failed dismally on Nanga Parbat, firstly with Buhl, later with the Messner brothers. ('Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.')  Those failures invoked terrible consequences.

I've had a lot of experience in the business world. Bad decisions can adversely affect lives. But, in climbing, bad decisions can very often lose lives. The stakes are higher.

Mick

 summo 23 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

Motivation and dedication. 

Putting the hours in between the big events, be it training for a sport or researching a business plan. Few people reach top in any sector purely on chance, they usually all have the resolve to push on, failures along the way are just hurdles not barriers (sorry sounds like a stupid saying). 

In reply to GravitySucks:

You don't need to take the lead to get to the top but it helps to be the one who writes the trip report.

Post edited at 23:18
 jcw 24 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

Depends whether he/she prefers the Bonnington or Scott model approach. Or since it is academic,  recast as "compare and contrast"' the two approaches!

 Doug 24 Apr 2019
In reply to jcw:

There's an article called 'out with the boys' by Mike Thompson which might be relevant - its in the 'Games Climbers Play' anthology

 profitofdoom 24 Apr 2019
In reply to Doug:

> There's an article called 'out with the boys' by Mike Thompson which might be relevant - its in the 'Games Climbers Play' anthology

Thanks Mick, it's called 'out with the boys again'

 AdrianC 24 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

There are strong parallels between decision making in business and in the mountains since it's quite common in both areas to have to make important decisions with incomplete information.  In both spheres we need to assess the probabilities of different outcomes together with the potential gains or losses so we can decide on a course of action.  A study on the merits of different ways of tackling this would be an interesting idea.

 nniff 24 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

There are some interesting parallels in trust and the extent to which you are prepared to take risk given confidence, or lack of, in a partner. 

Also consider the application of judgement, the calculation of risk, mitigation (runners) and commitment

 summo 24 Apr 2019
In reply to GravitySucks:

I'vealways considered that orienteering might have beneficial traits. You need to plan whilst pushing yourself physically. Whilst navigating one leg, you'll be planning the next one or even the one again. Turning the usually 2d data into 3d in your head. All whilst on your own, but still under the pressure of racing. 


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