My day job is leadership development and executive coaching, but in my free time, I’m an avid rock climber. I always climb with ropes and other safety gear, unlike legendary pro climber Alex Honnold, who recently became the first person to free-climb Taipei 101, a 1,667-foot tower. Documented in real time on the Netflix special Skyscraper Live, millions of people witnessed this unfathomable feat.
My eyes were glued to the TV and my heart was pounding … likely more than his! At least in the movie Free Solo, we knew he made it. Here, we had to wait a painful 91 minutes to watch him take that last step to the relative safety of the top of the spire.
While 99.99999% of us would never contemplate something this risky, Honnold thrives on it. But he never attempts projects like this without ferocious preparation, and the ways he prepares are instructive for leaders.
1. Reconnaissance
He examined, photographed, measured, scoped out holds and scrutinized videos. Do you spend enough time on due diligence to prepare and plan for high-consequence decisions and initiatives?
2. Relentless physical training
Honnold had to adapt to surfaces much different than rock. He trained to expand his climbing techniques to ascend glass, steel and smooth concrete (this is no easy feat; I struggle on rock polished by rain and over-climbing). In addition to the training he did outside the building, he did numerous dry runs on the skyscraper with ropes. Are you a devoted learner who goes to the proverbial gym to strengthen or build new competencies?
3. Modified shoes
Honnold had climbing shoes custom-made to work effectively with these unusual surfaces. Do you modify your approach, team composition, vendors, cross-functional collaborators and other factors to adapt to new or unpredictable circumstances?
4. Risk analysis
Climbing Taipei 101 presented unique challenges, including large crowds, surface contaminants and slippery glass. For example, at a few points along the way, Honnold stopped to clean off the slick dirt that had accumulated on the bottom of his shoes. His prep included proactively identifying hazards he could avoid and having alternative moves in mind in case he encountered unanticipated risks. How effectively do you examine and develop a Plan B for risk?
5. Mental preparation
Climbing is not just a physical endeavor; it’s also extremely mental/psychological. Honnold brought confidence from previous soloing experience and intense training. He developed strategies to employ if faced with potential panic triggers. And he mentally rehearsed, step by step, through visualization of the climb sequences. It is noteworthy that Honnold has called off free-solo attempts in the past when he wasn’t “feeling it.” Do you pay attention to your mindset when you’re taking action? Do you take the time to visualize success, or do you rush right in?
In a pre-climb interview, Honnold said, “I totally get nervous before big climbs. Nervousness isn’t fear. It’s a sign that I’m about to do something that matters.”
I love this important distinction between fear and nervousness. Fear can be paralyzing, preventing us from accomplishing big things (or small things, if we’re being honest). On the other hand, nervousness helps us stay present when we take on big things.
Donning my executive coaching hat, I encourage you to embrace your inner Alex, albeit a bit more risk-averse. Reflect on these leadership lessons to minimize fear and maintain a healthy amount of nervousness as a sign of excitement about the high-impact decisions you make and actions you take.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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