Marataba

The trail has been a life changing event for me. The beautiful moments in nature, without distraction, without haste, with true conversations and true sharing, have made me see my true self. For me this is the foundation for authenticity and for building beautiful, real and long lasting relations with people close to me. I have come to understand what personal growth means to me, who I am and what I can be for others. I now understand that love is a one of the key drivers of my own happiness. On the trail I have come to the conclusion that I want to help others with finding their real self. To find their meaning in life and to help them understand how they can fulfil this meaning. This desire triggers beautiful conversations with people close to me: my wife, my kids, my friends and my colleagues. And I want to extent this impact. This has triggered my search for a new, much more meaningful professional role which I have found in an organisation whose sole purpose it is to increase the well-being of people and to help organisations find their purpose and people to understand what is meaningful to them and act upon this insight. And knowing my own drivers much better allows me to connect with others on a much more meaningful level.

Thinking back to the trail has made me see what the impact is of being in nature and the power of connecting with it and of connecting with others on an intense and meaningful level. Looking at oneself, at the consequences of one’s behaviour and actions and seeing oneself on our earth and in the context of nature in its purest form, leads to an much deeper and clearer understanding of oneself. This insight gives leaders a clearer and full picture of who they are, how their actions impact others, how they impact our society and how they impact our planet at large. Only through this insight can a change of attitude, beliefs and behaviour be expected. In my mind it is therefore imperative for every leader to obtain this perspective, as base for authentic, upright behaviour change, that improves businesses, the society we live in and the planet we live on.

For me in November 2018, I learned the wilderness is the best possible mirror that helps me get in touch with my inner feeling, my intuition, the real me. The wilderness trail therefore is a truly unique experience. The first couple of days you let go of everything. In a very natural way awareness of your behaviour increases, and importantly of what holds you back. Your fears, what you are ashamed for, what you are uncertain about. Vulnerability in a group without ego’s is the best platform to get it all on the table, and most of all: to let go and leave it behind in the wilderness. The silence during long walks, the encounters with animals, writing (journaling), campfire dialogue and listening: they provide the path to really get to your inner feeling, to the source, who you really are. Ubuntu is the result: Being more in touch with yourself, being more connected with others. This goes hand in hand. It’s very powerful to next see your live unfold differently, unexpectedly. Let synchronicity do its work. A one week intervention … a stepping stone to more happiness, towards more natural, authentic and therefore more successful leadership. My name is Robert Spieker, I am a partner with transformation specialist IG&H. For 25 years, I coach, challenge, develop leadership teams towards higher business performance. Vulnerability, open-mindedness and compassion is what defines me as a facilitator and person. Do you want to make the step? Do join AdJan and me!”