In May, I did something I've wanted to do for years. I hiked the Grand Canyon. South Rim to North Rim in one day.
I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my husband and good friends. I thought it would be physically challenging. I thought the beauty would make me stand still in wonder.
All these things did happen, but so did something else.
I began to find parallels between the natural beauty of the hike and my work for organizations related to strategy. Yeah, my brain is funny like that. But stay with me.
Natural ecosystems and business environments are both complex systems where entities interact, adapt and depend on each other to thrive. So success is often less about competition and more about finding cooperative relationships.
There were six of us on the hike and we worked together to leverage everyone’s skills, spread out our supplies so everyone’s backpack was about the same weight and set a manageable hiking pace to ensure everyone finished.
The same is true for business strategy. One that highlights collaboration, mutual benefit and partnership takes into account what all involved need to succeed.
The Grand Canyon reminded me about the natural world’s dependence on environmental conditions which are currently at risk due to scarcity, regulatory changes and other impacts.
For months before we went on the trip, we hiked local trails, read books and articles, and talked to friends who were experienced. This preparation helped to prepare us for risks that we might encounter and kept us all moving forward as the day stretched on.
Similarly, businesses should conduct scenario planning to anticipate disruptions and build resilience for long-term sustainability. This helps to foster adaptability and builds confidence. Critical in today’s environment.
Conditions are constantly changing in the Grand Canyon.
In my months of preparation, I planned for extreme heat. Yet when we started our hike at 5:30 AM it was 40 degrees with snow and hail.
The Bright Angel Trail was closed during our hike and the early rain created slippery conditions. We knew we would end up on the North Rim but — like any species in nature — we had to adjust to changing conditions.
The same is true for business strategy. Strong strategy is not rigid. It includes the flexibility needed to make pivots and innovate to stay ahead.
Preparing organizations for the road ahead is the focus of my business. As an athlete, I'm constantly reminded of what it really takes to do well and bring that expanded perspective and experience to everything I do with my clients.
If you have a big hike ahead of you, let’s grab a cup of coffee and talk about your strategy.
Whether it's in nature or business, I'd love to help you determine if you're prepared and what might be missing from your plan.
