I recently got back from a 6 day hiking trail. I with a group of 9 friends walked a total of 100 km on one of South Africa’s most challenging trails,the Amathole Hiking Trail,from the 2nd to the 7th of December.
There were many high points during the “expedition” as well as challenging and trying moments.
Naturally I had a lot of time to think,pray and reflect and I picked up on a few leadership principles I would love to share with you:
1) There many ways obstacles can be faced.
One can go above, below or around it. A leader paves a safe way for those following him/her by getting the obstacle(a thorny bush or loose rock) out of the way or choosing a safer alternate route.
2) A leader has foresight.
A leader looks out for markers that point to the right direction thus enabling his/her followers to get to their intended destination. The trail was marked with yellow foot prints that were painted on tree trunks or rocks (we literally followed the yellow brick road to get to our accommodation everyday during the hike).For the greater part of the hike these footprints were visible but one lapse in judgement could result in missing the marker which often resulted in being sidetracked and therefore momentarily lost.
3) A leader is not afraid of accepting assistance.
This was a humbling lesson for me. By day 4 of the hike my knees had started to cave in. Managing downhills and jumping over boulders was therefore a lot more challenging. Manouvering these obstacles was however made easier by leaning against a friend’s shoulder or pressing hard onto their hand.
4) A leader includes everyone in decision making processes.
During the course of the week we had to decide as a group on what time we would wake up and which routes we would take after having read the profile of the day to follow . For the greater part of the week we had to wake up an hour and a half before we started hiking,in both cold and wet conditions.
5) A leader passes on the baton
When tired a leader is not afraid of letting another person lead.
6) A leader instils confidence
By the end of day one I was at my wits end. We had been hiking for 9 hours and my backpack was heavy on both my waist and shoulders. To make things worse the hut was nowhere in sight. As I hiked up the last hill occasionally stopping to catch my breath, my friend who had already reached the hut turned back to help the stragglers with their bags. As he passed me he said keep going,the hut is not more than 5 minutes away. Hearing that made the last stretch all the more easier.
7)A leader is self disciplined.
Waking up early in the morning to repack before the designated starting time requires discipline. Managing resources ie food and ensuring that there is enough each day also requires discipline.
Overall,the hike was an out of body experience. Nothing beats the euphoria of making it to your accommodation especially since once you start, there is no turning back,the only option is to keep moving forward.
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