HBR On Leadership Leadership Lessons from Adventurer and Environmentalist Rick Ridgeway
Jun 26, 2024
Rick Ridgeway, an adventurous pioneer and former Patagonia executive, shares captivating insights on leadership through the lens of mountaineering. He discusses the parallels between climbing peaks and managing business risks, highlighting the importance of meticulous planning and strong communication. Ridgeway emphasizes building a resilient team, whether for sustainable initiatives or scaling K2. Personal anecdotes illustrate how tenacity and collaboration drive success in both the wild and the corporate world, urging collective action for a more sustainable future.
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Tenacity and Goal Setting
- Set ambitious goals and create a roadmap to achieve them.
- Never give up, even when the goal seems impossible, and maintain tenacity.
K2 Climb
- Rick Ridgeway's K2 climb, the first American ascent without supplemental oxygen, took 68 days and faced six major storms.
- The team's commitment to the goal and each other enabled their eventual success.
Teamwork and Communication
- Recruit the right team members from the start, those aligned with the goals.
- Maintain open communication and remind team members of shared objectives to manage disagreements.