Ski Thrills and Leadership Skills

What I Learned on the Slopes About Leadership

It had been 21 years since I’d been on skis. And to be honest, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure if my body would remember what to do or if my knees would hold up to the pressure. But within two minutes of getting back on the slopes, it all came back—like I had never left. Before I knew it, I was carving down the mountain, tackling greens, blues, and even a few black runs.

It was an incredible few days in Vail, but somewhere along the way, it hit me—what I was experiencing on those slopes was a lot like what I’ve experienced as a ReLeader. Specifically, as a ReLeader—stepping into a role where things are already in motion and not always in great shape.

Here are a few lessons I was reminded of while flying down the mountain.

1. The Beauty You Miss When You’re Just Trying to Survive

At one point, I stopped in the middle of a run, just to catch my breath. And that’s when I saw it—the beauty all around me. The snow-covered peaks. The endless blue sky. The towering trees looked like something out of a painting.

The crazy part? It had been there the whole time. But I was too busy concentrating on not falling to even notice it.

That’s exactly how leadership can feel—especially when you’re stepping into a challenging situation. You get so focused on surviving—on fixing problems, stabilizing the team, making sure you don’t wipe out—that you miss the beauty of what’s in front of you. The people. The mission. The potential.

Sometimes, you just have to pause and take it in. Because if you don’t, you’ll miss the very thing you’re there to lead.

2. Muscle Memory and Leadership Instincts

Even though it had been over two decades since I last skied, my body remembered. Sure, there were some moments of hesitation at first, but once I got going, my instincts kicked in.

Leadership is the same way. When you step into a new or difficult role, it’s easy to doubt yourself, to wonder if you’re ready, if you can handle it. But the truth is, if you’ve led before, you already have what you need. King David knew this feeling well. When facing Goliath, he reminded King Saul, “The same God who rescued me from the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine.” The same is true for you—whatever Goliath stands in front of you, you’ve got this.

Your past experiences, the wisdom you’ve gained, the mistakes you’ve learned from—it’s all still there. And the God you serve is there too. Sometimes, you just need to take the first few turns, and before you know it, you’re leading like you never left.

3. From Greens to Blacks—Start with What You Can Handle

I didn’t jump straight onto a black diamond. I started on a green run, got my bearings, built up confidence, and then worked my way up.

And let me tell you—there was a moment when I was tempted to skip ahead. I looked over at the steeper, more advanced runs and thought, I used to do this. I can probably handle it. But wisdom (and maybe a little common sense) told me to start where I knew I could succeed.

As a ReLeader, that same temptation is real. When you step into a new leadership role—especially one that’s broken or struggling—you feel the urgency to fix everything at once. To jump straight into the most pressing problems, make sweeping changes, and tackle the biggest challenges head-on.

But that’s a great way to crash.

Instead, start with what you can handle. Build from the bottom up. Fix what’s foundational first—the core values, the culture, the communication. Build trust with your team, gain small wins, and create momentum. Because momentum is what gives you the confidence (and the credibility) to take on the tougher slopes.

If I had jumped onto a black diamond too soon, I probably would’ve wiped out, gotten frustrated, or even gotten hurt. The same is true in leadership. Trying to do everything on day one doesn’t just exhaust you—it can demoralize the people you’re leading. But when you take it step by step, you set yourself—and your team—up for long-term success.

The goal isn’t to stay on the easy runs forever. The goal is to build the confidence and capability to handle the harder stuff when the time is right.

4. Skiing with Others Makes You Better

I got to ski with some friends on this trip, and I quickly realized something: the better skiers pushed me to be better.

I took on tougher runs because they were doing it. I picked up techniques just by watching them. And I had way more fun than I would’ve had on my own.

Leadership is the same way. Who you surround yourself with matters. If you’re leading alone, you’re missing out on the wisdom, encouragement, and challenge that comes from being around other great leaders.

Find people who push you to go beyond where you’d go on your own. Leaders who make you better just by being around them. Because leadership—just like skiing—is way more fun when you’re not doing it alone.

This trip to Vail was more than just a fun getaway. It was a reminder of the bigger picture—in leadership, in life, and in the journey of ReLeading.

• Don’t get so caught up in the struggle that you miss the beauty.

• Trust your instincts—if you’ve led before, you’ve got what it takes.

• Start small. Build confidence. Then take on bigger challenges.

• And never do it alone—because the right people will make you better.