The CTO Playbook 73: How Avalanche Rescue Taught Me to Lead Calmly in Crisis | Leadership Lessons for CTOs
Dec 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Caroline Elliott, an experienced mountain rescue professional and former avalanche dog handler, shares how to apply rescue mindsets to corporate leadership. She reveals the physical effects of crisis on decision-making and the importance of calm language to ground overwhelmed teams. Caroline introduces the concept of a three-second reset to regain situational clarity and highlights the need for effective non-verbal communication. Her insights bridge the gap between high-stakes rescue scenarios and the pressures faced by tech leaders.
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Train Until Actions Become Muscle Memory
- Prepare tools and processes until actions are automatic through repetition.
- Build muscle memory so stress can't override critical procedures.
Stress Breaks Skills Unless You Practice
- Under extreme stress people either freeze or become reactive; practice reduces those failures.
- Leaders must be kind when learning curves vary and amplify individual strengths within teams.
Calm Leaders Anchor Team Behaviour
- Teams read non-verbal signals far more than words, and stress transmits quickly.
- Staying slightly calmer than the room anchors others and changes group behaviour.
