Lately, I’ve been thinking about how becoming a strong skier is very similar to becoming a strong leader.

Learning to Ski

OK, I admit it! I am a flow junkie and I really love skiing! There are very few things I enjoy more than the adrenaline rush of dropping into steep powder on a bluebird day. Fortunately, I live at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. That means (barring traffic issues) I am about 30 minutes from some of the best skiing in the country, maybe the planet! It also helps that my wife is a ski instructor and loves skiing as much as I do!

If there’s a downside to being married to a person who skis for a living, it’s that I’m often reminded that there’s always something I can improve…

Part of my problem is that I started skiing as a teenager on a local beginner hill with ZERO instruction. I remember those frozen blue jeans days, thinking I knew what I was doing. Unfortunately, I really didn’t have a clue. In those first few years, I developed some bad habits. Some of those habits have taken years to un-learn, mostly with the help of my very patient partner.

What Great Skiers Can Teach Leaders

Recently, as a leadership coach, it dawned on me how learning to be a leader and learning to be a skier have at least three things in common:

• First, Don’t Teach Yourself! Benjamin Franklin said: “Learn of the skillful; he that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.” Recognize that the best way to learn any skill is to work with someone who knows what they’re doing. There really are methods of skiing and leadership that work better than others. This is why experienced mentors, instructors, and coaches are invaluable.
• Second, Be Open! On the slopes and in organizations, it’s the people who aren’t willing to admit weaknesses who stagnate. As Brene Brown says: “Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” Feedback is the lifeblood of change and growth, so, be open to it, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.
• Finally, Live in the “Yikes Zone” and Keep Trying! Just like skiing, leadership IS a skill you can develop. But it requires effort and a willingness to take risks to improve! So, be deliberate and try to get a little better no matter what level of leader (or skier) you think you are. I recently heard of a coach who advised some developing skiers to “Live in the ‘Yikes Zone‘!” Meaning, that the best learning occurs when we ski past the edge of our comfort zone. Which may/should elicit the occasional “yikes”! And, when we fall, which should happen if you’re really in the Yikes Zone, it’s the courage to get back up and keep going that builds real strength.

And, if you’re a leader of leaders, one of the greatest gifts you can give new leaders is an environment of support and forgiveness as they build their skills. Remember, nobody’s perfect. And, investing in building stronger leaders at every level will always pay dividends! So, be patient with them, and with yourself, and keep skiing!

Stu Larson is an avid skier and owner of Ferron Creek, LLC, a leadership and organizational development consultancy based in Salt Lake City, Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. If you’d like more information about Ferron Creek, (or would like to go skiing with Stu) you can visit www.ferroncreek.com to learn more.