Friday, November 8, 2024

Lessons from the Treetops

In your career, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees

By Justine Van Bolhuis, Research Supervisor

Recently, I joined some coworkers in a team-building activity: treetop trekking. On a beautiful summer afternoon, we had three hours to work our way through a series of high rope courses built around towering trees, with tightropes, ziplines, rope swings, and all kinds of other obstacles to test our balance, strength, and sense of self-preservation.

After safely returning to the ground, with sore muscles and more than a few new bruises, I found that beyond being a fun activity, four ideas could be taken down from the treetops and into the workplace.

1. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

One of my coworkers, when presented with the idea of treetop trekking, admitted her fear of heights. But she challenged herself to try it anyway and successfully completed the first two courses! In your job, you may be tasked with new responsibilities that seem daunting. But if you commit to taking the first step, you’ll often find that you can do more than you think you can, and that taking on a new challenge is a valuable opportunity to develop your skills, grow in confidence, and push yourself to greater heights.

2. Know your limits.

There were six treetop trekking courses, but by the time I got to the end of course four, I was physically done. As good as it is to push yourself and take on new challenges at work, it’s also important to know when you’re reaching your limits, and when you need to take a step back and focus on caring for yourself so you can come back refreshed and ready to get going again.

3. Ask for help and offer it in turn.

It was amazing to see coworkers helping each other through the various treetop elements, whether by physically giving someone a boost, cheering them on, or advising how to best approach each obstacle. In your workplace, you can make a big difference to your coworkers by offering to lend a hand with their tasks, lifting them up with an encouraging word, or giving a helpful piece of advice to someone coming up behind you. And if you’re humble enough to ask for those things when you need them yourself, you will benefit from the skills, wisdom, and experience of those around you.

4. Don’t miss the forest for the trees.

Sometimes, I found myself so focused on the immediate challenge of the next obstacle that I almost forgot to look around and enjoy the amazing view from the treetops—not a vantage point I get to enjoy very often! At work, it’s easy to get bogged down in the grind of the day-to-day. When that happens, remember to take a step back and look at the big picture: why did you choose this career, and what keeps you in it? What brings you joy and satisfaction in your work? Who are the people around you that are making a difference in your workplace? Don’t be so focused on the immediate tasks at hand that you forget to look around and admire the view.

Lessons from the Treetops

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