Mindset Of A Survivor

Last October, my two sons and I headed out into the wilderness of the Blue Mountains for a weekend of hiking and camping. It was their birthday gift to me and I got a lot more than I bargained for.
 
Early morning on our last day, I got bitten by a Sydney Broadhead snake! Luckily, it turned out to be a dry bite (meaning no venom injected) and … we were prepared (as much as we could have been).
 
A few months earlier, I had completed a remote first aid course, had snake bandages with me, knew what to do and why not to freak out (only 2-3 people/year die of snake bites in Australia)! We had borrowed a Personal Locator Beacon from the local police station, knew where we were and could convey the exact location to the emergency services who (luckily) were able to send a rescue helicopter with Paramedics. The hospital far (in a helicopter) and after 15 hours I went home – exhausted but happy an d healthy. I’m hugely grateful to our well-organised emergency system in Australia.
 
What I learned:

  • Expert knowledge and practicing worst case scenarios help. Thinking through what can happen and then role-playing it provides you with more choices when things don’t go to plan – as nature (or the business world) usually is a bit unpredictable. Uncertainty and complexity are normal.

  • Staying calm in the midst of chaos can be a life saver. It helps your brain to think more clearly and make better decisions.

  • Know how to communicate is vital.

  • Relying too much on a working rescue system can be risky. You have to be self-sufficient as much as you possibly can. If you are with other people, use everyone’s skills. Good teamwork will deliver better results.

Megan Hine, an adventure guide and wilderness safety specialist who works with people like Bear Grylls on expeditions and adventure TV shows, has written a fascinating book “Mind of a Survivor – what the wild has taught me about survival and success”.

The principles covered are just as valid in the jungle being chased by armed men as they would be in an intense business meeting.

Drawing on her vast wealth of survival experiences around the world Megan talks us through the cognitive side of survival situations and puts them into a context we can all relate to.

Surviving in the wild takes a great deal of strength. You instantly think of brute muscle and fitness but what few people consider is that to truly survive you need mental agility and adaptability; you need the Mind of a Survivor!

Megan’s insights covered a lot more than my learnings from the snake bite. I highly recommend the book for anyone who wants an unusual perspective on leadership, decision making and ways of thinking.

Megan believes that curiosity and creativity are twin traits that are the two most important components of the survivor’s mindset. If you ever find yourself in a disastrous situation, you won’t have all your rescue gear with you. You’ll have to improvise, adapt and overcome the challenge. Same is true in business today. Uncertain, under resourced and overwhelmed people are facing rapid changes while striving for urgent and important goals. This could be a recipe for disaster or, alternatively, we could think of it as a survival challenge… lots to learn from Megan. Have a read (or listen on Audible – only 5 hours long).

Given the fact that most of my book “Naturally Successful” focuses on how to get leaders out of survival mode and into thriving mode, I should mention that even Megan as a survival expert describes her magical experiences in nature and how they give her energy to live life to its fullest. Very inspiring.

Go well and get out into the wild – it’ll make your work life easier.
Naturally yours,

Ingrid