Into the Mountain Pass

Pure Pursuits is an adventure designed to transform leaders in the travel industry. For five days last week I worked with 12 inspiring leaders from around the world as we went on an extraordinary journey through the mountains of Colorado. Cycling, hiking, camping, rock climbing and rafting in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery between Aspen and Crested Butte as the Aspen leaves turn yellow has left a mark on all of us. As the physical and spiritual experience moved us, leaders shared knowledge and experience to help strengthen their businesses. Investing time to work on the business rather than in the business.

I was invited to accompany this group to run a masterclass on game changing leadership and to coach the leaders on their own leadership challenges.

My master class covered the Value Partnership business journey map and compass to help them to take stock and identify the next steps they need to take for their business. These businesses were at a wide range of stages of evolution and faced different leadership challenges as a consequence. This was a group of path finding, unique, purpose-led businesses. Each on their own journey and each leader bringing their own unique human qualities to those journeys. So we talked about the fundamentals of leadership:

1. Purpose – the life force of a business
2. Conviction – the courage to make choices
3. Relationships – connected and influential
4. Time – focusing time on the vision
5. Self-insight – acting through strengths

We used The GC Index® as a way to get deeper self-insight and to put ‘acting through strengths’ into practice. Each leader had completed the Index in advance of the pursuit. The GC Index® gives people interpretations into their approach to:

• Leadership
• Engaging and influencing
• Creativity and innovation
• Getting things done
• Thriving – the cultures that work for them

We know that leaders differ in terms of their proclivities for making a positive impact in their world. During the master class participants became familiar with The GC Index® and explored the profile of the team. I helped them to see the links between the challenges facing their business and their approach to leadership. This set the scene for individual coaching conversations on the following days to share individual reports and to help the leaders to identify their personal growth agenda to better serve their business.

These coaching conversations took place in some of the most amazing places; on the hiking trail, by the camp fire, underneath a rock face, in a hot tub. The environment and the teamwork made these conversations deep, personal and meaningful.

The GC Index® informed them in a practical and insightful way.

We all return home refreshed and transformed with new insights and connections. What looked hard has become possible. What was opaque is clearer. New strategies are emerging, new teams being developed. Above all, each of these leaders has renewed confidence to lead and grow as leaders.

That is what we mean by conviction-led change.

Simon Court