Learning to Lead in the Wilderness
There is value in nurturing and growing the qualities of leadership within all of us. As leaders, we improve our lives and the lives of others arounds us. We develop the skills and capabilities that allow us to rally others around common goals and to show them the path forward . In the process, we help advance humanity through peaceful collaboration and existence.
Introduction
On an early winter morning in 1996, I heard a loud knock on my dorm room door. It was 2 a.m., and as I was waking up, I could gather some of the words spoken loudly by my wilderness instructor, Tom Lamberth, from behind the door.
“Good morning Baha, there is a missing skier, and we have been called to assist in the search. We leave in 40 minutes.”
That’s all Tom said as he continued his rush down the hallway to wake up the rest of the team members in their rooms. Tom was the wilderness instructor during my time at the United World College of the American West (UWC USA) in New Mexico. The reason he was knocking on my door early that morning, I was a team leader in the wilderness program.
Search and rescue was part of the community service requirements for the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The previous year I had spent training to be a leader of a search and rescue team. I learned the expected survival and navigation skills, first-aid and most importantly, how to care for the members that made up my team. It was through this experience, where I was introduced to what it meant to be a leader and the responsibilities that it carries.
As I led my classmates through the snowy night, deep in a New Mexico mountainous forest, I understood the value of trust. I felt a sense of pride that we trusted each other, and they trusted me, to guide us through the difficult terrain.
My experience at the college, and particularly my experience as a team leader and the sense of pride I felt when I had earned the trust of my team members, has shaped how I show up in my work. The last few weeks I have been reading about and contemplating what it means to be a leader and how I have shown up as a leader during my career. I have been considering what qualities have defined my leadership style to date, alongside those that I look to hone and practice, to grow with intention and authenticity. What follows are the thoughts I have been thinking about.
The qualities of leadership
When a person embodies the true qualities of a leader, no matter what their age, social context or qualifications are, they can rally people around them towards a common purpose. Leadership qualities can be inward or outward facing, but regardless of how they are expressed in an individual, we are always drawn to them for their ability to embody those qualities in a way that gives meaningful expression for our own ideas and causes.
Inward qualities of leadership
The inward qualities of a leader are not always immediately visible to us, however they are powerful in creating that invisible pull we feel towards them. The following are key inward qualities of leadership.
Character – a leader’s character inspires confidence in people to rally around them. A leader's character embodies their thoughts, feelings and behaviours and it drives the actions behind their words. Their character is based on strength and integrity, and it is something that they constantly build on and improve. People will not follow a leader if they do not have trust in the strength of their character.
Commitment – no one is drawn to an uncommitted leader. Commitment separates dreamers from doers, and nothing is more powerful than someone who is committed to their goal, their cause or their quest. We may not always be motivated to pursue our goals, or we may be in a state where we cannot quite find the way forward. A committed leader, especially one whose goals and dreams align with ours, can be the catalyst that allows us to rally around them towards achieving those goals and dreams.
Focus – a leader combines their priorities with concentration on achieving those priorities. They focus mainly on their strengths and doing the things they can do best, but they also focus on improving their abilities in new areas because they constantly seek change and improvement.
Passion – passion is the true driver of success. There is no doubt that most successful entrepreneurs and leaders achieve their success not through training and education, but through true love and passion for what they do. A strong desire to bring their ideas to life is what allows leaders to achieve their goals and dreams. Passion drives unshakable willpower and makes what seems impossible, possible. This is why passionate leaders are so effective, they believe in the ideas, goals and dreams they envision, and they pursue them with unwavering commitment.
Other inward leadership qualities include and not limited to competence, courage, initiative, responsibility, and security. They are all intertwined with the qualities highlighted above, strengthening them and reinforcing their foundations.
Outward qualities of leadership
Outward leadership qualities are easily noticed and they capture our attention in a leader. When we see how a leader communicates, listens and cares for others, we easily connect with them, especially if their goals and ideas match ours. Below are the key outward qualities of a leader.
Communication – clarity, speaking their truth, recognizing others and seeking their thoughts are the cornerstones of communication. A leader speaks their message with absolute clarity and out of pure and uncompromising conviction. They have an unshakable belief in the truth behind what they say. They also actively solicit feedback from their audience to help them adjust and validate their message.
Charisma – charismatic leaders can attract others to them by focusing on the best in the people around them. They focus on making sure that every person they interact with receives their full attention, and that they are the most important person in the room, not the other way around. By listening to others and recognizing their ideas and needs, leaders cultivate a sense of a shared common cause that further strengthens their leadership.
Generosity – leaders do not gather just for themselves. They share their successes and wins with others. A leader’s generosity is embodied in their gratitude and appreciation for what they have, by putting others first, and most importantly by putting their resources and money to work in the service of others. Gratitude cultivates a habit of giving generously, and this tends to come back through a multitude of rewards both material and otherwise. When this attitude is inherent in a leader, there is no limit to the positive impact they can have on others.
Listening – a leader earns trust and connection before they ask to be followed. The only way to build trust and connection is by truly listening first. For a leader, this means listening while wholeheartedly embracing the diversity of the voices and opinions they hear. A leader can learn nothing by simply speaking their own opinions. The only way they can learn is by listening to and learning from the thoughts and opinions of other people.
Relationships – we do not tend to maintain relationships with people who do not care for us. This is even more true for people we want to follow. Leaders understand people, not in the general sense, instead they get to know every person they interact with. True leaders are centered in their purpose to help others.
Other outward qualities of a leader include vision, problem solving, and servanthood.
The qualities of leadership
Final remarks
When I think back on my time at UWC USA, I realize how much Tom embodied the qualities of leadership I highlighted above, and how much I learned from him. I watched Tom and listened to him closely as he trained and prepared us for survival in the wilderness. That experience continues to define how I view my life and my work.
As a father, guiding my children towards their future means that I serve as an example to them by showing commitment and passion to the work I do, and ensuring that I communicate, listen and always place them and their needs at the center of my attention. I have also always applied the same practice to my work and how I interact with my colleagues. Without fail, I found that this practice has allowed to me be a better father, a more supportive and productive colleague, and overall a better person.
There is value in nurturing and growing the qualities of leadership within all of us. As leaders, we improve our lives and the lives of others arounds us. We develop the skills and capabilities that allow us to rally others around common goals and to show them the path forward . In the process, we help advance humanity through peaceful collaboration and existence.
If this story resonates with you, or if you simply want to chat about your own experiences and how leadership has helped you or can help you in your work, I’d love to connect.
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