Leadership and teamwork fundamentals – in climbing and life
- Photo from the Angela Hawse Collection at Marmot
This is the second feature Angela Hawse has written for Chicks this week, with her earlier report on the “Spirit of Service” available here. In this blog Angela talks about the basic fundamentals required to be effective at anything in life – be it a high-altitude alpine ascent or leading a team of co-workers. Thanks for the insight Angela! Great stuff 
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to fly from the Tetons down to Colorado Springs to deliver a Keynote Speech and run a team initiative challenge for a small group of 20 regional leaders for Taco Bell. They put me up at the famous and luxurious Broadmoor Hotel and we spend a great day exploring Manitou Springs and doing a Mission Impossible Team Challenge together.
Over the past 4 years I’ve worked a few gigs like this with Corporate Teams as a Keynote Speaker for a range of Leadership Development Conferences with large corporations, such as the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, Taco Bell and Yum! Brands. These gigs are always interesting and never the same.
The woman who runs Corporate Teams, Liz Hafer was a client of mine that Kim Reynolds hooked me up with, years ago to ice climb in Ouray. After spending the day together and hearing of my adventures and expeditions, Liz was super enthusiastic about bringing me on board to work with her in developing high functioning teams with her program at Corporate Teams.
Initially I wondered what I had to offer top executives and high powered managers about leadership and teamwork. After my first keynote, with them on the edge of their seats with enthusiasm and questions about my expedition and life experiences I knew I was a good fit.
Fundamentally it all comes down to the simple things that matter to be effective with anything in life, especially teamwork; communication, listening skills, problem-solving, decision-making, taking risks and managing stress under adversity. Alpine mountaineering and particularly Himalayan Expeditions bring out the best or the worst in leadership and teamwork. I’ve experienced both sides over the past two decades of leading expeditions, with over 20 high altitude expeditions under my belt. Each one different, each one challenging in its own right.
Looking back and having the chance to reflect on some of my experiences in preparing for my talks I know I certainly have grown and learned from my many endeavors. Rarely do I take the time to stop and think about what I’ve done, and where I’ve been. It’s been a real gift to go back to the past and reap rewards again in sharing stories and experiences with others.
Chicks Climbing, and especially Chicks with Picks has certainly been a foundation for me over the years and I treasure the relationships and experiences I’ve had with so many women, during the clinics and on adventures further afield. After my busy guiding season in the Tetons, which I am grateful for, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Chicks Rock! clinics in WI and WV! Hope to see you there!
As Angela noted, she will be at the Chicks Rock! Devil’s Lake Wisc. clinic Sept. 9-16, and at the Chicks Girly Gathering Sept. 24-26 in NRG! You can check out Angela’s Web site here at Alpinist007.
Tags: Alpinist007, Angela Hawse
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