Being a “Guide”… both professionally and personally

Regardless of your professional role (or title), we are all guides… both professionally and personally. Definition: One who shows the way by leading, directing or advising. We are advisors, leaders, problem solvers and members of multi-dimensional teams. Being a guide and problem solver requires balancing and optimizing a cocktail of leadership, communication, accountability and critical thinking. Jeff then introduces the Sherpa and the “Sherpa Attitude” which incorporates all of these attributes.

Servant Leadership

Jeff describes the selfless attitude of the Sherpa to convey the nature of a Servant Leader. Working for the overall success of the team. Not interested in personal accolades or summits. No complaining or whining. Just go out and get the job done… for the people around them. That’s the “Sherpa Attitude”. Another term for that is Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership… leading from a place that is centered around fostering the success of others. Whether teammates, clients or family. Nurturing others to help them identify their models of success and guiding them up the route that optimizes their particular skillsets. The world needs more servant leaders. Adopt the Sherpa Attitude both professionally and personally.

Adversity

Jeff uses the experiences he gleaned from his team’s 2nd place finish on ABC’s Expedition Impossible to showcase adversity in an exciting and fun way. Jeff reflects on his time as team lead/medic for a trauma team on the front lines of the war in Mosul, Iraq. It takes a high functioning team to work effectively in a V.U.C.A. (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environment. Adversity happens. Landscapes change. Attitude and adaptability are the ingredients to guiding your team through adversity in a constructive way. As a leader, your team is watching how you manifest your reaction to adversity. Without ever having faced strong adversity, one cannot expect to be an effective leader. What’s critical is to embrace the adversity and learn from it. Don’t shy away or back down. Hit it head on.

Trust

Using a very dramatic video clip of Jeff and his blind teammate Erik jumping off a 40ft cliff into a river below, Jeff illustrates the need for reciprocal trust. Encourage audience to develop collateral relationships based on trust and commitment to each other. Much of trust is built on open communication. Stepping out of our “silos” to reach each other.

Resiliency

Using Jeff’s work with his No Barriers Warriors organization (wounded veterans), Jeff outlines examples of resiliency and fortitude in the face of adversity.

Teamwork

Jeff discusses the concept of the “rope team.” We are all on rope teams… both professionally and personally. Inextricably connected to each other…win or lose, it will happen together. Develop and nurture those rope team alliances. The collective power of one! At some point we will be in each position on the rope… some days leading from the front, other days we will need assistance as we bring up the rear. Developing a strong and nurturing rope team is critical.