The Journey Framework: Using Metaphors to Accelerate Professional Growth
“The journey is the end point.”
– Terry Dubroy
Let’s talk about the underestimated power of leading with metaphors – and more importantly, the hidden effect that outdoor metaphors can have in driving performance and growth.
As leaders, we can sometimes get caught in the trap of evaluating performance and pushing our employees to their limit. We can become obsessed with “growth” to the point that we, often inadvertently and with the best of intentions, forget to create space for reflective leadership moments.
That’s where the art of leading with metaphor can prove to be one of the most valuable assets in your toolkit. Read on to further unlock the power of outdoor metaphors, and to hear about some transformative moments that Thrive CEO Terry Dubroy and his team have experienced when leading in nature-based settings.
While all of the individuals on your team are working towards a collective goal, each individual on your team is also on an individual journey. Within this individual journey are multiple facets at once – they are parents, siblings, athletes, artists, daughters and sons, husbands and wives, and so much more. Sometimes, these other facets of themselves can lead them away from the present moment at work.
They, and you, can all too easily become preoccupied with thinking about what will happen after work. This can happen when tasks become too mundane and repetitive, when employees are exhausted and burnt out, or for so many other reasons. But leading in metaphor is a way to ground individuals back into the present moment, no matter what the distraction at play may be.
The beauty of metaphors is that, from a single statement that may at first glance appear to be ‘vague’, everyone who is listening will be able to apply it to their own life and find resonance differently. And one of the most powerful, universal metaphors that Thrive CEO Terry Dubroy has discovered is that of being on a journey:
“I have learned that physical journeying – whether hiking through rugged trails or paddling a canoe through shifting currents – serves as a powerful metaphor for team leadership and collaboration.
In challenging moments during workshops, retreats, and even my own team dynamics, I will often gather everyone and take a moment to ask questions such as, ‘Where are we on the map right now? Where are we trying to move to? What is the terrain that lies between where we are as a team and where we want to be?’
Asking questions like this only takes a few minutes of people’s time and energy, and it gives them a moment to check in, refocus, and recenter themselves.”
– Terry Dubroy
By asking these broad yet intentional questions, Terry holds space for team members to reflect on how their current strengths, challenges, and team dynamics are affecting them. His team is further recentered as they reflect on the framework of the journey – how they can continue moving if the destination represents shared goals or vision. Bridging present moment awareness with a future focus prohibits the kind of stagnation and spiralling that could take place if team members could not place present moment trials in the context of opportunities for future growth.
As a leader yourself, you know how rocky the terrain of the team journey can be. Obstacles range from miscommunication, competing priorities, or uncertainties that require adaptability and, perhaps most importantly, instilling a profound sense of trust between yourself and your team.
Just as in a physical journey, progress depends on each member’s awareness, willingness to navigate the path together, and commitment to supporting one another through the twists, turns, and unexpected challenges along the way. Leading with the nature-based metaphor of a journey is a remarkable way to bring everyone back to the foundations that ground them both in their individual strengths and ability to work harmoniously as a collective.
Journalling Prompt for Using Metaphors in Leadership
As you reflect on the power of metaphor in leadership, remember that the journey is never just about reaching the destination; it’s about cultivating awareness, resilience, and connection along the way. Outdoor metaphors remind us that leadership is less about force and more about flow, less about control and more about guidance. By framing challenges as terrain to be navigated and growth as a path to be discovered, you can unlock new ways to inspire both yourself and your team.
Here is a prompt to help you kickstart the power of metaphorical leadership in your day-to-day routine.
How can I reconnect and ground myself or my team by using the metaphor of a journey?
