The travel and treks done so far had changed me deeply as a person. I have been sharing snippets of my story thru weekly series in Linkedin.
In my corporate career, I was aware of the leadership competencies that we worked on to develop ourselves as leaders. Trek after the trek, I realised that my journey was providing me with a live experience to develop my leadership competencies.
Here are some of my thoughts:
Thought Leadership (Acting strategically) – Based on the readings from my father’s diary, I created a Vision and influenced my family to buy-in into the Vision. I communicated my Strategy to my family members, communicated the rationale behind my Vision and asked for their ideas.
Thought Leadership (Thinking analytically & conceptually) – I listed the factors before making a decision. I collected information before coming to a conclusion. I searched for alternate solutions. I evaluated the pros and cons before making a decision.
Thought Leadership (Creating Innovative Solutions) – I generated options before choosing one. I engaged in many activities that were outside my comfort zone.
Results Leadership (Driving Results) – I developed a contingency plan whenever possible. I approached challenges from a problem-solving perspective. While others said, ‘it can’t be done’, I believed otherwise. I reviewed progress on my goals at regular intervals. I adjusted the paths as appropriate. I worked on a project plan and worked on my priorities. I was persistent in achieving my goals. I broke difficult tasks into smaller pieces. Learning was that results do not come overnight. I have to be patient and persistent with my efforts which are the key to moving ahead in life.
Results Leadership (Acting decisively) – I worked with deadlines. I did not procrastinate. I did not delay making decisions because of an exaggerated perception of risk. In cases where full information was not available, I took a risk and moved forward. I stood up for what I believed in.
Results Leadership (Risk Taking) – I focused on how to make things happen. I was persistent in pursuing my idea. I challenged myself.
Relationship Leadership (Collaborating & Influencing Others) – I anticipated reactions to my ideas and was ready with my responses. When dealing with different people, I tried out different strategies depending on the situation and the people involved. I didn’t promise more than what I could deliver.
People/Self Leadership (Managing Change) – In times of change, I redefined or refined my roles and responsibilities and adjusted the goals as appropriate. I recognised that it is natural to be afraid of change. I treated resistance to change as a problem to be solved, rather than a character flaw. Trekking & travelling solo taught me to nurture my Emotional Intelligence where instead of negative self-talk, I changed the way I talk to myself on a regular basis to something positive. I didn’t react to other people; rather I listened more and then acted accordingly. This habit kept me more focused & motivated toward my Vision and my goals. Also, I learned to demonstrate gratitude – appreciation of all the little things in life and not take anything for granted.
Knowing how much I was developing as a leader in my life, I decided to take a break from my career for a year. I came back from my Hampta Pass trek and resigned. It was time for me to complete my pursuit and further invest in my leadership and in my Life.