Unilever train with My Peak Potential

Unilever’s European Sustainability Training Platform team came together at the Carnegie Alpenrose last month. Arriving from all corners of Europe these senior managers took part in a two day leadership and teambuilding programme with My Peak Potential. They also used the Lodge’s superb facilities to hold their Sustainability Training Platform meeting.

Tony Dunnage, Sustainability Technology Platform Leader for Europe said;

“..an overall thanks for the two and a bit days - the experience surpassed my high expectations. You have a first class set up & team at the Alpenrose, up there with the best I've seen. The food, accommodation, activities and location were nothing short of superb, and perfect for what we wanted to achieve.

… it generated much interest which will see Unilever return to the Alpen Rose with a number of different teams. I myself would hope to bring the STP team back again, maybe next year.

There's a lot we can learn from the seamless teamwork from the My Peak Potential team.
…The leadership scenarios you have experienced could teach us some very important lessons.”

Stephen Fletcher, Engineering and technology Director for Unilever Europe also wrote;

“An incredible experience, in a fantastic environment, with a truly inspirational team. I will certainly come back with my team!”

Qualities of a good leader

One of the key aspects of the recent Graduate Trainee visit to Bavaria was identifying the qualities of a good leader. We were asked to identify the top five leadership qualities that we had observed in others, giving specific examples of when they had seen these in practice. The range of qualities identified was both comprehensive and enlightening, ranging from the ability to remain calm under pressure, to providing vision and direction to a team.









The tasks we were presented with provided ample opportunity to put these 'ideal' leadership skills to work. The protective environment of the Carnegie Alpenrose, alongside the fantastic support of the My Peak Potential team, provided the perfect backdrop for this. A key aim was to allow individuals the opportunity to reflect on how they might take what they had learned and observed back to their working environment. A highlight for me was the personal support shown across the group throughout each task or activity. As our students graduate this week they experience a different but equally poignant sense of community spirit. It was a privilege to be a part of this residential and I hope our graduating students will embrace many opportunities following receipt of their awards.

Paul TyrerHuman Resources

Pain is temporary, quitting is forever!

Libraries and Learning Innovation were offered the opportunity to send some staff to Bavaria as a thank you for their involvement in this year's Festival of Partnerships for Students. Lucky enough to be one of the chosen few drawn out of the hat I found myself Nordic walking, skiing and climbing down a gorge during the three day trip as part of a diverse group, made up of students and staff from across the university. We listened to inspiring talks from Dee Caffari who sailed solo around the world in both directions and Dave Bunting who led the British team up Mount Everest via the West Ridge.

The instructors were brilliant. They taught us the skills needed to participate in the challenges so we felt safe and comfortable. I also loved listening to the fascinating facts about the local countryside. It was an amazing experience. We had beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, comfortable accommodation and scrumptious Bavarian cakes. At times challenging, it was really enjoyable and I even made some new friends. I have returned feeling enthused and rejuvenated with just a few sore blisters on my feet. The motto of the weekend for me had to be: "pain is temporary, quitting is forever!"

Winners in Bavaria

Last week saw a group of 19 students and staff, winners in the Leeds Metropolitan University Festival of Partnerships for Students, arrive at the Carnegie Alpenrose for a week of fun and personal development in the mountains. When they received the news that they were to fly out to Bavaria for a week of snow and sunshine, few of them really knew what to expect.

Many groups arrive here questioning themselves deeply, will I be fit enough; is it going to be scary; am I capable? Well, so far...everyone who has visited us on a teambuilding or leadership programme has accomplished the challenges on offer; some against all expectations of themselves. Our trainers are some of the most highly qualified and experienced outdoor specialists and safety remains their main focus; fun a close second! This is nicely expressed below by one of the students in the group.

From all your Gorge group, we wish we were in the Gorge every day. Not once did we feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Thank you for making our first day at the Alpenrose so great. Becki Griffiths

Although this programme was not essentially about learning new skills or teambuilding (these students came from many different faculties across the University) it was still designed to be a very powerful experience, benefitting the individual both personally and professionally.

Reasonably new to the industry myself, I have been blown away by the effects of outdoor activities on individuals. The achievements in getting yourself and your team mates down through the “Gorge experience” or of learning a new skill such as Nordic skiing are a huge boost to self confidence and self belief which in turn can boost creativity, problem solving and develop talent and potential. You are also bonding with people who are sharing the same experiences as you and in doing so you are learning to place trust and have confidence in others as well as yourself.

Experiencing something outside of your normal routine can also have huge psychological benefits and give you that nudge you need to realise dreams and aspirations that you thought were beyond your boundaries. Please see our “Be your Best“ web page for more benefits of outdoor activities.

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow.”> Ronald E Osborn

This group arrived in the main as individuals but left as a group of friends who had shared some great experiences. There was a lot of laughter as well as a few tears of anticipation but I think the testimonials they left us sum up the end product......

“Had a brilliant time and would like to thank all the staff involved. I feel I have achieved something I would not have done otherwise, thanks" Karen Smith

“Thanks to everyone involved in making the last few days so amazing. I’ve never been on a trip like this but I definitely will be doing something like this again....” Chris Jones

“The time spent with My Peak Potential has been both exciting and exhilarating. The activities are so rewarding and the team leaders are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Thank you 4 the opportunity” Sam Dixon

My Peak Potential are going live

We have launched our brand new website http://www.my-peakpotential.com/. Same address; totally new informative, innovative and exciting content!

My Peak Potential specialise in Bespoke Leadership and Management Development. We are a team of ex-British Armed Forces experts in leadership and adventurous training, with our own alpine lodge accommodation in the Bavarian Alps. From here we are able to offer exclusive residential development programme’s as well as fantastic adventure holidays. Please see our new “Be your Best” page to find out more about the powerful, professional and personal benefits of outdoor adventure activities.
There are many new exciting features to the website, including video footage, blogs, competitions and plenty of stunning imagery of the lodge, mountains and various expeditions we have led and taken part in. We have also added an innovative new “Be Inspired” button; simply click on the button, fill in the quick and easy form and submit! One of our experts will then get in touch with suggestions for development programmes, academic courses, holidays and motivational presentations.
To celebrate the launch of our new website we are running a competition to find the team most worthy of a free three day training package for 6 people with us in the Bavarian Alps. This prize is worth £4,500. Simply go to competition box on the homepage and let us know in 100 words why your team would benefit from a development programme with My Peak Potential. Competition closes on the 30th May 2009
We hope you like the new look and enjoy spending time on our fabulous new website.
Please let us know how you find it by contacting us via the website.
Best wishes
Jo

The Everest West Ridge Presentation

It is that time of the year when assignments and exams are taking place, and we are submerging ourselves in the mayhem of submitting coursework and meeting deadlines.

Last week I attended the Dave Bunting Presentation. I regularly check the “campus announcements”, and this really caught my eye as the presentation was billed as high impact and visual.

I remember following on Sky News the attempt to reach the Everest summit via the almost inaccessible and rarely climbed West Ridge in 2006.

The presentation followed the expedition from conception to completion and the many emotional ups and down experienced by the members of the expedition party; the preparation period was three years!

The talk was awe inspiring, at times humbling. There were many themes I could relate to in my everyday life; emphasising the importance of team work, physical endurance, stamina and striving for a common goal. It was about leadership and making hugely difficult decisions.

It was about the process, rather than the end point, as the team never actually managed to complete the expedition and reach the summit.

It reminded me how fine the line is between success and failure.

It reminded me how big the world is!

Andrew Jennings

Dave Bunting is available for motivational presentations through www.speakersfromtheedge.com
and www.speakersacademy.nl

Please click on the names to go directly to their websites.

Teambuilding with self confidence

The last couple of weeks in October saw the Carnegie Alpenrose fully booked with three teams of guests arriving back to back. All three teams arrived with similar objectives to acheive. These included improved teamwork, better communication skills as well as building self confidence and belief as individuals.

Below is an extract of an e-mail sent to us from a member of one of these teams. This team were the winners of a UK outdoor challenge that was organised for the staff of Leeds Metropolitan University. Their prize was a three day course at My Peak Potential's Alpine training centre, the Carnegie Alpenrose. Here they took part in one of our teambuilding courses, consisting of mountain biking, hill walking and a ropes course in the stunning Ostertal gorge behind the lodge. Here is Joan Sheehan's account of her visit by way of a thank you letter to My Peak Potential and it's staff.

"The trip was truly amazing! I have never been a fan of going away with work colleagues, preferring to get on with my life outside work seperately. Malham I think was the first time I had been away voluntarily and was certainly an excellent experience only marred by the fact I was so tired and couldn't stay awake long enough to socialise in the evening.

I don't think I will ever understand my inclusion in the list of "winners", considering my physical problems I thought a few days in the Alps may be the death of me! I am so glad I was included though.

Of course, the weather helped to make the trip but I know we would have had a good time regardless. The "support crew" are fabulous people, so friendly and always with a smile even though they must have been shattered at times. The instructors, all so keen and yet patient when we had our "problems". I honestly didn't think you could possibly pitch the weekend to such a diverse bunch of people successfully but you did it and did it brilliantly. Everyone was included in all aspects of the weekend and I think it helped to bring us together socially in the evenings. Trust me, sitting around singing Bohemain Rhapsody with a group of people I didn't really know is something I never thought would happen!

The activities were amazing and yes, I enjoyed the gorge walking - well, I look back and know I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I felt it at the time. Being terrified of heights I never dreamt I would be doing these things and yet when faced with the task, yourself and your team just seem to instill a confidence that I didn't know I had. I don't think there was a point where I thought I couldn't do something (except the coaching at the edge of the cliff - you'll have to forgive me that one!). The cycling was brilliant and I so wanted to turn around and cycle back again. The walking was the one thing I was dreading and yet once again it was perfect!

Something strange happened this weekend. On Monday I went to the Rodelbahn, I didn't feel nervous even though others around me did, I climbed onto a chair lift and even took photos back down the hill. I came down with no brakes, laughing all the way. I'm sure I laughed so much I made myself sick! I then got on a plane and for the first time in my life I sat and read a paper through take-off rather than panicking and again during landing. I feel a confidence I haven't felt before... so thank you.

I know that if I ever get the chance to return I will be first in the queue ready to push myself even further."
Joan Sheehan - Principal Learning Officer - Leeds Metropolitan University