Unpassable Rapids

Where are we going?

When you are leading your team into unknow territory, your leadership must be at its strongest. Picture yourself as the captain of a vessel; you have a team of adventurers along with you and set out to explore and conquer the unknown. There are times of pleasure and the joy of constant discovery, but around every bend is the opportunity for disaster.

I love to read historical accounts, particularly stories from the frontier in the late 19th century. In 1869 John Wesley Powell set out on an expedition to explore the Colorado River. If you read the journals of the men who joined him, you will get a fascinating picture of their hearts as they journeyed ahead. A little less than two weeks into the journey, the group lost a third of its food supply when a boat broke apart against some rocks. “It is a serious loss to us, and we are rather low spirited.” Later, on July 4th during a personal reflection, one of his crewmen wrote the following: “Took a long walk tonight alone beside the lake and thought of home, contrasted its comforts and privileges with the privations we suffer here and asked myself why am I here?” You can start to imagine the physical and mental toll taken on the men as they navigate constant hardship and the ever-looming question of “are we there yet?” On August 28th, they came upon perhaps their greatest challenge, represented by an “unpassable section of rapids.” “The spectacle is appalling to us…,” wrote one man. That evening, three men decided they had enough. They departed the expedition and left the rest of the crew to fight the upcoming passage without them. The next day, the remaining crew forged ahead through the rapids and almost immediately after, the water began to open up. On August 30th, they reached their destination. The three men who left the expedition three days earlier were never seen again. It is assumed that they died climbing out of the canyon.

This is a simple message for the leader: Don’t give up! You will encounter seemingly impossible rapids along your leadership journey. You look ahead and your stomach turns at the thought of what it’s going to take to make it through. But so very often the calm waters of the destination are just beyond your ability to see them. Will you stay the course when everyone wants to jump ship? Take five minutes and reflect: What am I facing right now that is absolutely terrifying? Now is the time to remind yourself of the vision that inspired you to begin the journey. Don’t grow faint, the calm waters are just ahead.

Now Go, Lead…