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Slacker Manager

Management: Give me enough rope and I’ll…

by David Zinger on January 15th, 2008

What are the ropes that connect you to the people you manage and how strongly are you connected to them?

I have lived my whole life on the prairies. We live at about 780 feet above sea level. Yet there is something about Mount Everest that calls to me. Unfortunately, last week, Sir Edmund Hillary died. He was the first to climb Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay.

I have written about this previously but I was very impressed with Edmund Hillary’s perspective on The Brotherhood of the Rope. The Brotherhood of the Rope refers to the psychological, social, and spiritual connection that mountain climbers share. I think it is a very caring and powerful management metaphor. I encourage you to think about the ropes in your life - your accomplishments, summits, and relationships. 

Here is a section taken from a  previous post I wrote on the topic:

At times, climbers are physically knotted together for safe passage. In 2006 there were 2 powerful incidents during the spring climbs on Mount Everest. One climber after reaching the summit, ran into trouble after his summit. The next day 40 or more climbers trekked by him to summit the peak without stopping to rescue him. A week or so later another climber, in a similar situation, was rescued by 3 climbers (Mazur, Brash and Osborne) who aborted their summit attempt to assist the climber in need. Sir Edmund Hillary was angry that 40 climbers had not lived the brotherhood, instead choosing to achieve their own summit.

Here is a tidbit from a powerful Everest News article: Webster, like Hillary, said mountaineering has always consisted of a “brotherhood of the rope.” That brotherhood, he adds, would see climbers go out of their way to help other climbers, and scuttle summit attempts to mount rescues. It’s because of that tradition that Sharp’s death - and the lack of help from other climbers - has become so controversial.

As managers we are seldom, if ever, faced with this magnitude of a decision between task and relationship. The decision was also made in thin air as the body, mind, emotions, and spirit are extremely stressed. I think it is important to summit and it is important to help others.

The Brotherhood of the Rope symbolizes the assistance we received from others in achieving our personal summits and our connections and debt to others as we travel together. It is our willingness as managers to recognize and assist others — having a wide angle view rather than blinders only for results or personal peak performance.

In honor of Sir Edmund Hillary I ask you to think about the ropes in your work:

  1. How are you pulling others up?
  2. Who is helping you reach your summit?
  3. When is the last time you abandoned your “summit” to come to the aid of another?
  4. How do you balance the demands of results and relationship at work?

David Zinger never climbed Everest but he left the prairies to complete an Outward Bound Mountain course.

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10 opinions for Management: Give me enough rope and I’ll…

  • Bill Wallace
    Jan 15, 2008 at 4:30 am

    Good post, David. I like the rope analogy especially in the days of facebook and myspace. I remember when relationships could only be face to face (sad that I can say that but …)

    Your 4 questions are good to think through though. Who AM I pulling up? I hope it’s somebody but I do know now that I haven’t been doing that too well recently.

    I better check my rope!

  • David Zinger
    Jan 15, 2008 at 5:28 am

    Thank you Bill.

    There certainly is something very physical about the rope and yet psychological too.

    Keep hanging on and pulling up.

    David

  • Karl Edwards
    Jan 15, 2008 at 6:32 am

    Inspiring post. Thank you.
    I believe many people feel like the injured and ignored climber, trying desperately to get others’ attention… to get in on the “brotherhood” of the strong or successful before it’s too late.
    Or to change the image, waiting for someone to invite them to the table instead of taking the seat that is rightfully theirs and inviting others.
    Maybe the climbers who pass others by feel as outside the brotherhood of the rope as the soul they left stranded.
    How do we help people develop eyes for others? What gives some the sense that they belong and others the sense they don’t?
    You’ve got me thinking!

  • David Zinger
    Jan 15, 2008 at 6:42 am

    Karl,
    I am pleased you are inspired and in turn I am very inspired by your comment. I didn’t think as much about: maybe the climbers who pass others by feel as outside the brotherhood of the rope as the soul they left stranded. Thank you for “refreshing” my eyes for others. You’ve got me both thinking and feeling.
    David

  • Jake Norton
    Jan 15, 2008 at 8:27 am

    Hi David,

    Thanks for bringing up and revisiting this important topic - both for climbers and for life in general. For me, too, Hillary’s passing reminded me of the old brotherhood of the rope, which, while not completely absent from the slopes of Everest, has been significantly diminished in recent years. And, I would hazard to say, it’s prominence in the business world has diminished as well.

    Again, thank you, and keep posting!

    -Jake Norton

  • David Zinger
    Jan 15, 2008 at 9:04 am

    Jake,

    Good to hear from you again. As one who has been to the summit of Everest twice, you speak from experience.

    I can’t seem to shake this metaphor of the Brotherhood of the Rope. I don’t want it to diminish, I want to see the rope stronger. I think somehow I can do this as a tribute beyond one blog post to Sir Edmund Hillary.

    I will keep posting and perhaps more posting on this topic.

    Stay tied in.

    David

  • Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai"
    Jan 15, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    David, I really liked what you had to say about The Brotherhood of the Rope. Liked it so much, in fact, that I’ve included your blog in my post tomorrow.

  • David Zinger
    Jan 15, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Thank you Susan.

    I feel very attached to the rope metaphor. I even have 2 mountain climbing ropes at home yet we are about 1400km to the nearest mountain!

    Of course it is the psychological and social ropes that really count for me, it is just nice to have a physical reminder.

    David

  • Phil Gerbyshak
    Jan 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    David - I remember last year when you mailed me the rope. I had no idea then that we’d be working together as closely as we do now, both here and on JJLN. It’s a powerful analogy.

    Thanks for pulling me up with you! Strong rope and carabiner you’ve got my friend.

  • David Zinger
    Jan 15, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Phil,

    I think we take turns pulling each other up. And the climbing rope has so many ropes inside that make it strong. Stay strong, stay connected, keep climbing.

    David

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