Flock Go The Distance - The human potential for Endurance

The Human Potential for Endurance What is endurance and what defines our limits?

We started our Flock | Go the Distance journey last week with another outstanding line up of speakers who joined us to explore the meaning of endurance and what defines our limits.

For most of us, endurance has been modus operandi for a full year now; not just in business but in our personal lives. It’s a situation that no company, person, family, school or hospital has been prepared for and it’s a scenario that keeps changing in line with the roll out of speed vaccines and a fractious economy.

There are many parallels in the traits required by businesses and sportspeople for an endurance mindset, however, as Nick Hollis, Adventurer, points out in the current pandemic scenario: ‘with an expedition, you know when it’s going to end. Currently we don’t know the end point’.

Nick has a remarkable ability to relate business messages to his time on Everest, an expedition that we soon learn isn’t just about reaching the summit. As he points out, making it to the top is the halfway point, as Nick and his team also needed to come down again safely. It’s a very fitting message for the current scenario we are all in now; when businesses start to operate fully again – it’s the halfway point and we need to have the energy and enthusiasm to power through this phase and onto the next.

It may come as a surprise but my time in the corporate world was harder on me physically and mentally than my life today as an endurance athlete.

There’s a reason for that: on big expeditions we tend to get time to rest and recover — but business is different.

As an experienced mountaineer with a major goal to complete the 721 challenge (climb the 7 summits, ski the North and South poles and row the Atlantic in world record speed), Nick brings huge experience and a candid insight into his life as an adventurer after 18 years in senior corporate roles.

des Sables, the toughest foot race on earth in 2017, and now has his sights set on racing in the world’s toughest row, The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Both Phil and Andy underline the significance of personal wellbeing, not just through their sport but in the workplace too. Andy, Phil and Nick are ardent in the need for rest and recovery in the commercial world. Just as they would take time to recover and build their own personal performance through rest days and sleep, time out and away from the workplace is crucial in building a resilient business.

As a hotelier I’m more than happy with the corporate market vicariously promoting rest and relaxation for their employees and from a personal outlook it’s a big focus of consideration; how to manage a team who have gone through the hospitality sectors many highs and lows.

Flock has a culture that encourages people to speak up, speak out and share best practices. And despite going online, our panel session made up of Andy Holmes, global head of wellbeing at RB, and Phil Bigland, director of global business services at Dyson, share insight and honesty around our current scenario where no one has the training, contingency or prior experience.

Working from home, and therefore online, is a scenario that the panel explore with the very harsh reality that individuals are now likely to spend more time with their work colleagues due to virtual presenteeism, than they are getting a chance to catch up with their increasingly remote network of friends and family.

As well as holding senior corporate roles, Andy and Phil both have backgrounds in high performing situations – Andy having captained GB at ice hockey and Phil who ran Marathon

Our two webinars don’t stipulate answers, there are few definitives to this on-going situation, but they do provide a resource and recommendations that, for Flock, will enable us to Go the Distance both in our business and personal lives.

The next 12-weeks are set to open many more conversations and we’ll challenge, champion and redefine our limits as we all embark on our own Everest and a potentially new personal modus operandi.

Danny Pecorelli Danny Pecorelli Hospitality Action | Cyclists Fighting Cancer www.exclusive.co.uk/flock/go-the-distance/teams Andy Holmes Hospitality Action | Project Wingman www.exclusive.co.uk/flock/go-the-distance/teams Phil Bigland Action Medical Research www.elijahsstar.com/personal-sponsors

Nick Hollis, Adventurer

Nick Hollis, who has completed the Seven Summits, shares the lessons and techniques he’s discovered from his expeditions with Flock. His insights show how the extreme survival

situations he was faced with on Everest can also be played out in the workplace and homelife too.

In a bad situation, think positively.

Whinging won’t get you anywhere, but positive thoughts reap rewards.

Negativity is contagious.

Stop spreading it.

Jason Fox Life Under Fire

“It may come as a surprise but my time in the corporate world was harder on me physically and mentally than my life today as an endurance athlete. There’s a reason for that: on big expeditions we tend to get time to rest and recover – but business is different. It’s common to see people working beyond their limits for extended periods of time, which is particularly the case now during COVID-19 and that’s definitely not conducive to high performance and it’s also not conducive to long-term health.”

During his talk, Nick highlights how endurance is not simply about pushing as hard as you can at all costs and then forgetting the consequences, while also giving an insight into the elements required to build a long game strategy.

Click the link to view Nick’s talk in full player.vimeo.com/video/514242782

Clearly defined goals •

Working towards a long-term goal (business or endurance event) means being resolute in the commitment to achieving the goal.

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The more dedicated the more resilience a person displays, whereas if you aren’t committed from the outset, you are likely to fall off achieving the goal.

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Consider and understand what may be holding you back and aim to drive your personal efficiencies. When working out what your limits are – appreciate what your sweet spots are. It’s as important to learn and understand your limits and remember that these change and can be built upon as you progress on your personal journey.

Teamwork •

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Remember there are different levels within the team and each person will have a different strength. Draw on these assets and assign leadership to the best person to help achieve the task, not based on authority or age.

World class leaders operate without ego and any praise is passed down to everyone in the organisation to create a culture of trust.

When we feel safe – we perform at our best.

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The limits on an endurance event are generally mental and not physical. 90% of our thoughts are negative and in periods of stress and strain it increases. Address and visualise the difficult periods – when things then get tough, replace the negative thoughts with positives and visualisations of what success will look like.

Planning •

Endurance is not a case of suffering – instead, focus on efficiency and choose to work smarter, not harder.

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It’s important to look ahead and identify where the strain and load will be most and build periods of recovery either side of them to maximise personal and team performances.

Tools for the task •

Have the right equipment for optimum performance.

Taking the first step •

People procrastinate as they are frightened of failing and as a consequence they may never start.

Personal wellbeing •

Whether it’s a commercial or sporting scenario, nothing is linear meaning there are both high intensity periods as well as down time.

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It’s important to rest and recover as this plays an equally important part in building endurance and mental and personal strength - lack of recovery is one of the biggest challenges facing business today.

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As we push our bodies and boundaries the voice inside your head gets louder and more persistent to stop doing the task. By keeping moving forward, step by step towards your goal, this is the embodiment of endurance.

Just by taking the first step, the second step is easier Nick Hollis Adventurer

Nick Hollis World Land Trust www.justgiving.com/fundraising/seven-summits-challenge-nick-hollis