3 Leadership Lessons from the Swiss Mountains
It was a beautiful spring weekend in the Swiss Alps. The sun was shining. The sky was unthinkably blue. Cows were grazing with their calves. And the snow was melting into a flurry of wildflowers.
My husband and I were enjoying a wellness weekend with day-long hikes. As we zigged and zagged, up and down the mountain my mind wandered. I reflected on work, on relationships, on life.
The more I am surrounded by nature, the more I realize how much there is to learn for it.
In the end, a few key lessons continued to reappear. They were practically echoing around me… just like the alphorn playing in the neighboring village.
Here are the 3 lessons from my weekend:
- It is worth taking a little bit of time to get a different perspective.
My husband and I walked for 90 minutes to a large waterfall and stopped in awe of the massive wonder. We appreciated the fall up close and climbed to a platform halfway up the side. Up close, you couldn’t see the exact path of the water. And I didn’t see where the water flowed after crashing down. I just appreciated the details.
I felt like I knew the waterfall.
But after this, we hiked for 2 hours up the mountain adjacent to the waterfall. We now stood at a higher altitude than where the waterfall began. We were looking down on what seemed so big a couple of hours before.
I was amazed by how many small falls joined to form the large one. I could see the stream flowing through the valley, carrying the water that just enjoyed a free fall. I saw the bigger picture.
It took 2 hours, but I saw the waterfall from a different perspective. I understood it better. I appreciated it from a different angle. This wouldn’t have been possible if I stayed up close.
And conversely, if I only admired it from afar, I wouldn’t have any idea what the crashing water sounded like. How the cold water misted around the entire area, covering my face and clothes. I wouldn’t know what the freshwater smelled like or what the water thirsty plants looked like up close.
It’s important to see any situation from multiple points of view, especially as a leader. When you make a decision that impacts your employees, think about how this decision will be perceived. What is their work like. How will this change what they do? Don’t assume you know. As a leader, you will see how this decision flows into all the others being made. But you don’t intimately understand the details. Take a day, a week. Take the extra time to learn from your team.
2. Pay attention to details and admire the bigger picture… just don’t try both at the same time.
This is similar to the one above, but a slightly different lesson.
When hiking, the paths aren’t paved and each step requires a watchful eye (especially for a novice like me). But, at the same time, I was surrounded by the most stunning view. The mountains were capped with snow. The fields were intensely spring-green. And the bright blue sky danced with clouds. I would miss out on the joy of the hike if I only watched my careful steps.
I tried to look up while hiking and stumbled. I tried again and my ankle rolled. It wouldn’t work. I couldn’t watch where I was going while also taking in the view.
My solution? I built in moments to appreciate the view. I used this time to catch my breath and look around at the big picture. The pause gave me a much-needed break and allowed me to appreciate the mountains.
Any project in business has the same challenge. You must appreciate the big picture while also paying attention to the details. If you try to do both at the same time, you could become paralyzed with indecision.
Take time, in the beginning, to understand the overall direction and agree to the big picture. Then march forward without a misstep. Focus on the details. Execute everything with a watchful eye.
Then at predetermined stopping points. Pause, regroup with the team and make sure the big picture is still in mind. Catch your breath, celebrate the progress and see where you still have to go. Then start again.
3. Sometimes you get caught in a field of cowsh*t
The right direction isn’t always the easiest. It might be messy. It could stink a bit. This was certainly true on our hike.
Swiss dairy farming is amazing. In the summer, the farmers lead their cows up the mountain. The cows graze on wildflowers, grass, and herbs. The milk and cheeses have such a special flavor for that reason.
As an adorable aside, the cows are paraded down from the alpine pastures after the season (check out Appenzeller cow procession as an example).
So, as a result of the many, many cows, there are many, many fields filled with cow poop.
As the trails in the mountains are very well documented, we often approached a field of cows and knew we have to go through it. During these times, we had to take even greater care with each step.
This was uncomfortable, but we knew it was the right direction. We sucked it up and marched on.
But we quickly learned the difference between an uncomfortable situation and a dangerous one.
There were many calves with their mothers. When we approached these fields, with new cow families, we were lucky to have a fence protecting us from the charging mother. We needed to find another, safer, route. This meant we had to scale up a steep hill on our hands and knees. Or we had to take a long way around.
What is important is that you know the difference. In business, this line is not always as clear. For example, is your team frustrated with the extra work? Or are they voicing valid concerns about your direction?
Check your ego at the door. Ask the right questions to assess the difference. Ask why. And keep asking why until you understand the root of their feedback. The answer should reveal itself if you look for it.
You will discover if its a field of cowsh*t or a mother with her calf.
