Lead by Example

I remember leading one tour with two men in their early eighties who hadn’t brought raincoats. Rather than cancelling the walk or treating them like they were incapable, I found two giant bin bags, ripped a hole for each head and added two armholes. Suddenly, they had makeshift rain ponchos. We all laughed, took photos of them modelling their very glamorous new outfits, and then off we went on our walk.

It wasn’t a perfect solution, and they certainly didn’t look like they’d stepped out of a Patagonia catalogue, but it worked. They stayed dry enough, joined the experience and ended up with a funny story and photos they probably wouldn’t have had if the weather had been perfect.

There’s the Five Elements of Guiding in one giant bin bag: I offered care, found a practical solution, made it fun, adapted to the weather and got us moving.

Travelling can be uncomfortable for people, as can guiding. If we want to encourage people to embrace it all, we need to be willing to do it ourselves. Don’t be the guide who says, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Guests notice how we respond when weather changes, the bus breaks down, the track gets muddy or the day doesn’t go according to plan. If we complain, panic or behave as though every tiny inconvenience is a disaster, we can’t really expect the group to remain calm and open-minded. But when we put on a raincoat (or a bin bag), adjust the plan and keep moving without creating a huge drama, we show people that discomfort is manageable. When we laugh at the unexpected, stay curious and find something worthwhile in the experience, we give others permission to do the same.

That doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful or forcing some kind of unrealistic positivity onto the group. Sometimes conditions are genuinely difficult. Sometimes plans need to change. And sometimes things are, for lack of a better word, completely fucked.

Leading by example means acknowledging the reality of the situation without allowing it to ruin everything. It might sound like, “Yep, this is a pretty decent storm, but we’ve got rain jackets and, well, no rain, no rainforest. The rainforest is pretty incredible in this weather.”

I’ve guided around the world and travelled extensively. One thing I’ve learnt is that not every culture approaches uncertainty, discomfort or changed plans with the same laid-back attitude many Aussies pride themselves on. Our casual “it’ll be right” approach can be reassuring to some people, but to others it can sound dismissive, unprofessional or as though we haven’t properly understood the situation.

Guests have, hopefully, come to experience our culture, so I think there’s something valuable in owning a little of that Aussie laid-backness. Not in a way that dismisses genuine concerns, but in a way that shows people they may not need to react quite as quickly as their nervous system is telling them to. A little calm confidence can rub off.

And when I say “nervous system,” I don’t just mean someone looking visibly nervous. It can show up as irritation, impatience, withdrawal, defensiveness, overthinking, complaining or suddenly becoming very annoying or controlling! It’s really more of a stimulation and protection system, constantly reading what’s happening around us and triggering emotional and physical responses, often before we’ve had time to make sense of them. Sometimes people aren’t being difficult. Their system is just overloaded, unfamiliar with what’s happening or trying to create a sense of safety. That doesn’t mean we need to carry them or excuse bad behaviour, but it does help us respond with a little more awareness.

People show discomfort differently. Some cultures are more direct about what they need, while others avoid speaking up until a small problem has become overwhelming. This is why it’s so important to encourage open communication from the beginning. At the welcome meeting, let people know they can come to you early, before a small issue becomes a big one.

The world would be boring if we were all the same. Even when we officially speak the same language, it doesn’t always mean we’re actually speaking the same language. People communicate, interpret situations and create a sense of safety in very different ways.

Leading by example isn’t about expecting everyone to become more Aussie, laugh off every inconvenience or cope exactly as we would. It’s about modelling the qualities we hope to encourage: calmness, flexibility, curiosity, resilience and personal responsibility.

The aim isn’t to say, “This doesn’t bother me, so it shouldn’t bother you.” It’s to show them, “This isn’t ideal, but I’m calm, I have a plan and we can work through it.”

I’ve said this before, but we don’t need to carry perfectly capable adults through every difficult moment. We can create an environment where courage, flexibility and problem-solving are normal. We offer support when it’s genuinely needed, but we also let people see us adapting, breathing, laughing and getting on with it.

Lead by example. Be the change you want to see. I could throw in a hundred more juicy quotes here, but you get my gist. They’ve stuck around for a reason.

This is where the Five Elements of Guiding come alive.

The Nourisher looks after their own needs, prepares properly and creates a sense of support without over-mothering the group. They show people that care and personal responsibility can exist together.

The Organiser communicates clearly, sets realistic expectations and gives people the information they need. They don’t waste energy complaining about what can’t be controlled. They focus on what can be done next.

The Connector brings warmth, humour and a sense of adventure. They help people see that an unexpected challenge doesn’t have to ruin the entire experience, and sometimes it becomes the story everyone remembers.

The Resilient Guide stays calm and adaptable when plans change. They don’t absorb the panic of the group or add more chaos to the moment. They pause, assess and respond.

The Navigator finds a practical way forward and keeps the group moving without becoming pushy. They help people focus on the next step rather than everything that has gone wrong.

We don’t need to change who we are for every guest, but the more deeply we understand our own elements, the easier it becomes to draw on the strengths of all five and stay balanced in the day-to-day reality of guide life. We are all of the above elements, some just need a little more work than others for each of us.

People don’t always need another instruction or a motivational speech. Sometimes they just need to see someone doing the hard thing without turning it into a catastrophe. Our behaviour often says more than our words.

Let your confidence be contagious.