The Journey Matters More Than The Destination

Leadership Lessons From Hiking the Grand Canyon

This past summer, while hiking the Grand Canyon, I got lost. Not lost in the sense of wandering off the trail. I knew exactly where I was going. Lost in the sense of missing the purpose of the trip. Preparing for the hike took months of researching, planning, and training. Motivation was not an issue and I was ready to see how fast I could traverse the canyon.

Starting off fast and checking my watch frequently, I was on pace to achieve my time goal as I focused on the number of hikers I passed. Then it hit me. While I was racing to finish the hike, I was missing the most important element – the journey. I wasn’t present. I was only focusing on the destination; I was missing out on the beauty of the journey. The awe-inspiring scenery faded into the background when the goal was just to finish as fast as possible.

Reflecting on the trip and the Journey with my coach, Mo Kasti, he connected this story to leadership presence. He asked me where does this situation happens in my life and/or with leadership?

Leadership presence is more than physically showing up or moving from place to place. Presence is being in the moment, it is about focusing and making connections with those in front of us. Presence is more than just hearing but truly listening to those with something to share. We can only engage our teams when we are wholly present and not lost in thought about the next task or the upcoming meeting. It’s about appreciating the journey without being overly focused on the destination.

I have been on the wrong side of this leadership lesson and certainly have fixated on the destination without appreciating the journey. As leaders, we can easily fall into this trap. We are high achievers wanting to drive results. How often do we walk into a room focused on getting to the desired outcome without taking in the whole room: the people in the room, the mood, the body language, people’s thought and feelings in the moment. We are always acting in a sense of urgency. We rarely pause and reflect on the key lessons learned? Are we just pushing to get the desired outcome without realizing the missed opportunities for connection along the way?

Going back to the Canyon trip, I recalled the moments where I did slow down, took a deep breath and a long look around the canyon. Pausing, I noticed it was early and quiet with a soft breeze blowing cool air. The sound of the river below carried a faint rushing noise up the cliffs. I was in the middle of one of the greatest treks that exist and I was finally appreciating the trip.

I realized now more than ever that I still can be overly focused on the outcome and not be fully present in the moment with my team. I need to be mindful by checking myself and taking a step back, I need to ensure I am listening in addition to hearing, posing more questions than statements, and appreciating the process to get the right answer which is just as important as the answer itself. When I walk into a room, I need to see the whole room, the people in the room, the mood, the body language, and people’s thoughts and feelings in the moment. Knowing the risk of placing too much emphasis and importance on the result helps me realign my thinking and focus on my team and the process. That’s why I dearly appreciate and value this leadership journey.