Expedition Leadership Simulations

Nerd Alert!
Disclaimer….this methodology may be out of scope of what you may have considered for leadership development in adventure based activities….in addition…. I am not a true gamer. I was such an outcast in high school that the science club one shoved me in a locker and I was even turned down for a date by a girl who played French Horn…

I digressed from the start…

The past few years I have been using a self-modified version of Dungeuns and Dragons to teach leadership, decision making, communication, and expedition planning. Without going into the technical aspect, I have seen tremendous success in all of these areas.

Most adventure participants have a fairly decent grasp on their technical disciplines. Its when we bring a team together in place them in diverse and situations we see how well they can work together and communicate to successfuly resolve the situation.

In the simulations I have participants build on a multude of skills they either pocess, or the skills of their character. Since we have introduced Emergenetics into our Expedition Leadership coaching and workshops, we are not only able to see how thenparticipants prefer to act (through their character) but also to act OPPOSITE of their profile through their character. This provides them with a safe enviroment to test the waters of a preference or skill they do not pocess. For example, someone who scores with preferences of structure and analysis will ease into the technical aspects of the game. Hit Points, Armor Class, Skill Test, etc are easy for them. Developing a back story for their character, nearly impossible for some.

For nearly five years now we have been using this as another approach to build leaders as well as bringing teams together. While I may not have all the discipline of a game master (the guy who guides the game, acts as a referee, and essentially works to facilitate the adventure), I’m doing well enough to get teaching points across and facilitate the development of the participants….helping them transfer knowledge and skills from catacombs to camps.

For more information on our workshops, please visit our facebook page

We would enjoy it if you would kindly give us a “like” over there….

The Adventure of…..Building Brands, Blogs, and Brains

So its been awhile since we did an actual blog. Still trying to figure out the best way to post the podcast on here…it does an autofeed so I really don’t see it until its posted up.

Much of our work has been focused on helping other adventurers with understanding their strengths, assisting in mind mapping books and articles for others, and helpingnteams set up their own personal branding.

All of this has been exciting to work in, and although it has taken us from our own adventures, we have grown from it as well.

This morning I worked with a client who has had a steady career, but due to the still struggling economy, has faced not only job loss, but a cut in hours at her new gig. All of this as she prepares for a major expedition. Our main focus shifted from understanding her leadership and thinking preferences to defining and communicating her personal brand.

Most of this has not been on the forefront of most adventurerures….but here is why we think it is important….

Personal Branding

For most of us, our expeditions and journeys are paid for through the hard work of our daily gig. Doctors, retail clerks, teachers, the guy who hands out baskets at the local discount store….we don’t have major sponsors, we work, save, take on extra hours, sell our stuff on craigslist. When we lose a gig it not only impacts rent, mortgage, and repayment of loans…it its our ability to do that trip we have been planning.

When we have to get a new gig, everyone out there has a resume. The difference maker is what we do while we have a gig. I strongly recommend networking, but more than that, getting involved in social media. Having a solid presence on Facebook, a sepperate page from your personal one, where you can share your insights, “like” pages that share your interest or places that could potentially hire you, network with others in your field, etc. On top of that, post often…if you are a mechanic or a welder, show off your work, post info about the latest trend in your industry, tell about a class you went to…. This is all good information for the next fab shop to have in the front of their mind when you post up after your shop closes down and you need a job.

Linking facebook, twitter, tumblr, and other social media is important. If you like to talk, do a podcast and publish that as well. Are you a nurse, do a youtube video series on packing a firstaid kit….and don’t forget about other sites such as Linked In.

The point is, be an expert. Have 15-20 topics you can easily discuss, and do a video, blog, or a podcast. Be sure your local network has access to this info…

Emergenetics

We have been intrigued by this work and use it specifically for helping both teams and individuals understand how they think and behave. I won’t go into detail here because we have already featured this, but it is a service we offer. We believe that this is the single best tool to help adventure and expedition teams as they prep for an upcomming journey. Our focus is specific to adventure and expedition, although the bulk of our work is in the corporate environmnet.

Strong Presentation Skills

The ability to talk about your adventure, an expedition you have just returned from, an elevator pitch to a sponsor, or asking someone for a gig is important. I am amazed the same people who polish their skills and expertise, travel the world with expertise, are sent out by churches, non-profs, and humanitarian groups absolutly suck when they are asked to present. At best you get boring, more boring, and completly disinteresting….

We recommend a presentation workshop that is tailored to your specific needs. Sorry, that org that has you mastering toast falls way short of the skills you need to present to a sponsor, give a mission recap to the folks that invested in you, or the 30 second pitch you need to give when walking a resume in.

Understanding how to sell yourself and your ideas, get a new gig, and building your own personal brand is just as important as knowing how to build an emergency fire, put in a clutch, or plan a mountaineering trip.

Challenges of Moving Technically Proficient Adventurers in to Expedition Leadership Roles

Deep wreck diving in the cold dark waters of the North Atlantic require solid planning and a dive leadership team with common competencies, skills, and experience

What is it that makes great expedition leaders?  Unfortunately, the model we use today is to promote (in an organization or by self promotion) someone who is technically proficient into roles where they are now responsible for the lives of others. Not only does this pose a risk to the success of the adventure, but can also have significant impacts on the leader- including exposure to legal action against them.

It doesn’t matter if you are leading a group of riders across Canada on  bikes or putting together your annual hunting camp. If you are a leader of any kind of adventure, you need to be trained in sound leadership principles.

(be sure to see the link to hear the podcast)

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Tonight’s show- Advise to off-roaders and discussion on adventurers who transition to Expedition Leaders

Check out this episode