Last week I facilitated a leadership retreat with a team of Key Account Managers (KAMs) and emerging leadership within an organization. The retreat was hosted in Montana where we were surrounded by beautiful, majestic mountains, horses, goats, chickens, and breath-taking nature scenes. The views in Montana always move me to emotions. They inspire a sense of awe and wonder leaving me filled with an appreciation for the simpler things in life.
When I facilitate leadership retreats in Montana it is done with intention. When you remove leaders from their typical day and take them out into nature, real leadership transformations happen. When the experience of being part of a team is out of the norm and somewhat unpredictable, new skills emerge.
Taking leaders out of their typical work environment and putting them into nature causes something magical to happen.
Leaders begin to change how they see themselves, their team, and their business. They relax, reflect, and begin to settle into who they really are.
Being out in nature provides an experience that shifts the mindset.
It broadens a leader’s perspective, helping them to return with a greater sense of confidence, an exciting story to tell, and new insights about who they are and what they are capable of as a leader.
In my experience, structured and comfortable retreats have no real impact and stimulate little change in the life of a leader. Nor do they provide any moments of awe or wonder that will move a person to see themselves in a whole new way. But having conversations around a campfire under a star-filled sky, and climbing to the top of a mountain, now those are memorable moments that leave an impact!
Most leaders do not have the experience of climbing a mountain with their team, reaching the top to see a view that fills their hearts with pure joy. At the top they realize it was all grind and struggle to get there, but a grind and struggle that afforded them a view they would never have seen from the bottom.
Think about your last executive retreat, did the experience change your life?
Did you come back with a real story to tell?
Was there an opportunity to come face to face with your own fears, permanently changing your perspective on life and leadership?
Real leadership transformation only happens when you get uncomfortable, and your environment is unfamiliar. The retreats I facilitate are both real and atypical. They will expand your thinking, shift your mindset, and help you see yourself, your team, and your business in a whole new light.
Intrigued by the transformative power of nature and authentic leadership experiences? If you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, expand your leadership potential, and be part of unique moments that truly impact your life, join me on Instagram. Let’s continue this inspiring conversation and explore the possibilities of transformation together. Follow me today for more insights and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the extraordinary experiences that await.
