Employee 174432, Take a HIKE!

Stress, anti-corporate sentiment, expanding waist lines, ego needs, you name it – for many of us it is creating chaos in our lives. Keeping the work/life scale in balance has never been harder. The pressures of work are controlling many of our lives. Businesses have to struggle to be on their toes in this global environment and it’s the employees that at many times feel like the victim. How can business reverse the impact this has on employee morale?

Productivity, efficiency, leadership development, team building, coaching are terms we all hear on a regular basis from our employers. These efforts have impacted each of us and companies understand that. Health and wellness are quickly becoming the new buzz words among corporations. The stress we deal with has given us a desire for ways to create a stronger balance. Activities such as Yoga, life coaching, meditation, and other services that provide us some inner peace are becoming more and more prevalent. That’s all great, but what about satisfaction in our work environment. I say, take a HIKE; and I mean that literally.

I worked in the corporate environment for over 15 years and although it was very rewarding in many ways, I came to a realization that I was just a number. But was I? Can you imagine how successful a business would be if they could harness some of the negative energy around being a “Number”? How many people do you know that have nothing but good things to say about their employer? As employee 0743 with one of my old employers, I was exposed to many great ideas, negativity, questions of “what the hell am I doing here?”, employee gossip, and management jokes. I was a contributor but I now realize that “You”, “He/She”, and “The Share Holders” and other finger pointing never got me further ahead. Alone, if these great ideas shared with me were exposed to management, how much more successful would the company be? Why did I let the “Corporation” instill so much anger in me? Who controls my anger and anti-corporate sentiment? The answer is I do. Fortune Magazine’s Howard Sochurek writes, “You can’t control other people’s behavior, but you can control your own.”

Looking at “me” instead of “you” may seem obvious, but how often do we do that? We have been told “You, You, You,” constantly in our lives. There is an all too common adage that there is no “I” in T-E-A-M (Together Everyone Achieves More). I feel that is a misleading statement. There is an “I” in team and if you ignore it, there goes a sense of self-worth, accountability, and job satisfaction. If I am not fully involved, able to communicate openly and honestly, and appreciated by the team, how successful will the team be? Focusing on “I” makes a strong “Everyone”. But how do I get there and what does hiking have to do with all this.

I moved from Toronto to Vancouver, Canada, about two years ago to live my dreams and aspirations. Coming out here on business exposed me to my passion; hiking. It wasn’t just exercise for me. Hiking gives me fresh air, a clear mind, endurance, patience, openness, creativity, rejuvenation, appreciation for nature, a sense of accomplishment, and some well deserved “I” time. I’m addicted. I am not saying move to British Columbia. My question is: Why is our natural environment rarely utilized by employers? How much more productive would teams be if they spent a day a month outside to get to know one another, breathe, share ideas, expose our unique creativity, and be in an environment away from business distractions. If you hike now, you know what I’m talking about. Hiking allows energy to flow through our entire body. Moving blood does wondrous things to our physical and mental self. This “I” time may seem like a simple solution and I hate to say, it is.

On a hike there is nothing to worry about except putting one foot in front of the other. This gives rejuvenation time to our body and mind. That’s the beauty of a hike. What other activities create this freedom? Clean air, an unpretentious and stress free environment, the smell and beauty of nature, and the good we are doing for our bodies all helps us feel better about ourselves.

Almost anyone can hike. Yes, it lacks the luster of golf, belly dancing, and many other corporate “Team Building” activities. However, do these activities really impact you in a sustainable and positive way?

The question to ask is: Do the activities you leverage in running your business help create the more successful “I” necessary for a strong “E” in team?

I hope to see you hiking on the trail and enjoying your journey.

Glen Sollors

Founder and Chief Trail Blazer,

Beyond the Tour