Germantown has some of the steepest climbs in the Dayton/Cincinnati region.
Six hikers started out on our typical Monday morning 8-mile hike with Mary*, the leader, at the front of the pack. After several days of rain, the path was a slippery mess, so most of us were taking it a little slower than usual.
Not far into the hike, I noticed Mary was pulling farther and farther ahead, so I spoke up.
“It’s a little slick back here!”
Mary trucked on, leaving us to wonder if she didn’t hear me or if she just didn’t care. Thirty minutes and three major hill climbs later, she finally paused at an intersection and looked back. Surely she’d slow down now that she saw we were barely keeping up.
Nope.
I could feel—and hear—the group’s frustration, not to mention my own. Decision time: I could keep grumbling or come up with a solution.
“Hey guys, I know the way,” I said. “Let’s just take our time and meet up with Mary at the visitor center.” It was two miles in, our typical site for a bathroom and water break.
The tension dissipated. Someone was finally stepping up.
Unfortunately, when we reached the visitor center, there was no sign of Mary, no cell reception, and a light drizzle was starting.
“Do you want to wait a bit or keep going?” I asked. “I can send Mary a text as soon as we get reception.”
The group agreed to press on. When the rain picked up about a half mile later, I offered another option.
“We can backtrack now and still get in 5 miles, or we can keep going. What do you think?”
“We’re not going to get any wetter,” Paul* said. “Let’s keep going.” The others agreed.
Shortly after, we finally got a call from Mary. She had turned back to look for us, but she took the low trail while we stayed on the high trail, so we missed each other completely.
She was now at least 30 minutes behind us. It didn’t make sense to stand and wait in the rain, so we forged ahead.
Eventually, the rain stopped. We took in the beauty of the woods: the wildflowers, a personal symphony overhead courtesy of the birds, and even a couple of deer dashing across the trail.
What started as a frustrating trek ended up being a relaxing, enjoyable morning with fellow hikers. It was a simple hike, but it reinforced several key leadership principles:
- Pause to check your perimeter. Take time to look back and make sure your team is actually still with you.
- Be direct, not passive. “It’s a little slick back here” was too vague. “We need you to slow down, please” would have been far more effective.
- Be ready to pivot. If your leader isn’t leading, it’s your opportunity to step up.
- Include your team. Give people a voice in the decision-making process so everyone stays invested.
“If you think you’re leading, yet no one is following, you’re merely taking a walk.” — John C. Maxwell
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