As a teenager I did a lot of hiking. I learnt a rule that I thought might save my life.
The rule was: if you’re lost in the wilderness, head downhill.
The idea was that eventually you’ll find a watercourse which will cross a road or lead to where people live, so you can get help or find your way.
I’d you’ve ever been truly lost you’ll know it can be a very frightening thing.
You don’t know where you are or where to go.
It doesn’t just happen in the wilderness.
The reason why getting lost is frightening is in our brains.
Let me explain…
Our brains are divided in two.
One theory as to why we evolved this way is that this division enables us to think in parallel.
One half of our brain focuses on tasks, (what we do), while the other half understands position (where we are).
We need to do both in parallel to survive.
Think of a bird.
It must find food and focus on the detailed things that are needed to catch it, whilst simultaneously watching out for anything that could be a threat.
The left half of a bird’s brain focuses on the detail (finding food) as the right half watches its environment for threats.
One half enables us to eat, the other half stops us being eaten.
We can function with just one side of the brain, at least for a time.
If we don’t know what to do, but we know where we are, we’re not lost.
Likewise if we don’t know where we are, but know what to do, we’re not lost.
Being inside your home without lights is ok, because you know where things are, more or less, even though you can’t see them.
Being inside a dark forest without lights is scary, because you don’t know where anything is, and you can’t see them.
If you’re in a strange city but can see a recognizable landmark it’s ok. You don’t know where you are but you can see where to go.
And so it goes.
Position without direction is ok. Direction without position is ok.
No position and no direction is scary. That’s when panic occurs.
Back to the downhill rule.
Why does it work?
If I don’t know where I am, the rule means I know what to do. So I’m ok.
I’m not lost.
The downhill rule isn’t just a wilderness rule, it’s also a rule for life.
Its a good rule for leaders.
“if you’re lost in the wilderness, head downhill…”
Teams can find themselves in situations they’re not prepared for.
What they hoped to achieve has failed.
What they tried to do doesn’t work.
When teams get “lost” and are suddenly in unfamiliar territory, a leader who focuses on details will keep the team on track.
When a team isn’t sure which way to turn, a leader who can show the team where they’re headed will keep the team on track.
Help them make the next decisions.
Good leaders don’t hesitate to take charge of directions when position is lost.
Or establishing their position when directions are lost.
Poor leaders do neither.
Great leaders do both.
(Book Inspiration credit: Iain McGilchrist. “The Master and his Emissary”)