Fri 27 / 02 / 15
Shift your leadership into gear one hairpin at a time
What’s inspiring about sitting in a soul-less, badly lit classroom, role playing leadership exercises and looking at PowerPoint slides? Or reading about leadership in a book written by some corporate guru?
I’m sure there is some value in both these approaches but they never worked for me. I’m a “roll your sleeves up and get stuck in” kind of guy, so experiential learning is what I love.
When I left corporate life and re-trained to become a coach I knew that the topic of leadership was going to be my niche. It is an area that fascinated me, having been subjected to various styles and numerous approaches myself. I knew from my own experience how challenging it can be to flourish and grow in a corporate setting, without feeling like you were giving up who you were to fit into a corporate mould.
I am a huge fan of the great outdoors! I love working with my clients in new and inspiring places be that in the hills or on the beach. My office is my campervan! I especially love cycling.
I remember it as clearly as if it was yesterday still -the day I learnt to ride my bike without stabilisers. I couldn’t believe my Dad had let go of my bike and I had actually managed to stay upright on my own. From that day on, I have been in love with the simple pleasure of riding a bike. That was over 40 years ago and I still love the feeling.
In the early days, riding a bike meant freedom, play, adventures in the local parks and countryside. As I grew older it became a means of transport, a way to keep fit, a competitive tool, a social vehicle, a way to explore new places, or just a few moments of pure and simple pleasure, just as when I was 6 years old. My first mountain bike (1988) enabled me to explore even more places and attempt some new challenges. Riding bikes has taken me to some incredible places around the world and means I can eat pretty much as much food as I like without putting on weight (bonus!).
So when I started thinking about how I could devise my own programme to best work with individuals growing into leadership roles it was clear to me that I wanted to reach people who were just like me – loved being outdoors, loved riding bikes, loved experiential learning and really wanted to develop their leadership skills to flourish in the corporate role. What I wanted to create was something unique for cyclists to stretch them both on their bikes and also in their leadership.
The programme needed to be really experiential and appealing to those who love to ride their bikes. It also needed to make an impact. I wasn’t prepared to “go small” – I wanted to create something really special to challenge these individuals.
And so it was that Bespoke Leader Development was born. A leadership programme for keen cyclists which includes a 3 day retreat in the French Alps where they get to climb the most famous Tour de France climb, the Alpe d’Huez. At over 13 km long, at a gradient of between 8 and 10% and with 21 hairpins it is a cyclists dream. Each of those hairpins is named after one of the cycling greats. Legends were born on the side of this mountain!
To think that it is all about the bike would be missing the point though. The bike is the vehicle for learning and experiencing, the classroom is the amazing setting of the French Alps, the powerpoint presentations replaced with individual coaching and experiential leadership training sessions, and homework and assignments superseded by activities like star- gazing!
The individual journey starts long before we get to the Alpine retreat with individual sessions to prepare for what is about to come. The three days in the Alps staying in the gorgeous Lauvitel Lodge is a laptop free, disconnect time. The disconnect time provides the opportunity to ride hard, reflect deeply, grow quickly and build strongly. To make sure it really does make a difference in each life, follow up sessions are scheduled for when everybody returns home. We really want to make sure that everything learnt is embedded in the individual’s lives. Group numbers are intentionally kept small to allow easy access to the 2 coaches and trainers who take you through the programme. We don’t want anything to get in the way of your learning!
It’s bold, it’s not for the faint hearted (although we do have an e-bike option available!), it’s unique and it is going to challenge people. And I can promise it will be way more exciting than being in a soul-less, badly lit classroom!
See you in the Alps!
And what does bespokeleaderdevelopment mean?
Be – who you are as a leader not what you do
Spoke – bike wheels
Leader – that’s you!
Development – the programme and Velo is also a Latin root for speed, rapid, or swift and early bicycles were called Velocipedes (speedfoot)- early bikes did not have pedals – you scooted your feet on the ground to build speed.
Blog written by Dieter Hachenberg. To contact Dieter, email dieter@dieterhachenberg.com.
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