SIR CHRIS BONNINGTON
 Chris Bonnington is one of the most successful expedition leaders
in the history of mountaineering. In 1970 he led the expedition that climbed the South
Face of Annapurna and in 1975 achieved success on Everest - the Hard Way, up its huge
South West Face. He reached the summit of Everest in 1985 but the challenges that now
attract him are the few exciting unclimbed peaks that are left in the World's further
ranges.
He has established a reputation as an outstanding
motivational speaker and is a visiting lecturer at Cranfield School of Management. He has
been honoured with a Knighthood in 1996, the CBE in 1976 and the Founder's Medal of the
Royal Geographical Society.
He is president of The Alpine Club, the Council for National
Parks, the British Orienteering Federation and LEPRA (The British Leprosy Charity). He has
presented many television programmes including the award winning Everest Years, Lakeland
Rock and The Climbers and has written fourteen much acclaimed books, all of which have
been bestsellers.
EVEREST PEAK OF ACHIEVEMENT
A programme illustrating Bonnington's management style
Reaching the highest point on earth requires teamwork of
the highest level. Chris Bonnington describes his own personal success in at last reaching
the summit of Everest in 1985 at the age of 50, as a member of the Norwegian Everest
Expedition. The expedition placed eighteen climbers and Sherpas on the summit in three
separate ascents, a record for a single expedition. This was possible because of superb
planning and organisation, but most of all, because of the quality of teamwork amongst
expedition members.
The leader was Arne Naess, a millionaire ship owner, and
Bonnington acted as his chief of staff looking after the logistics and advising on
strategy. He studies Nęss's approach to leadership and explores the dynamics of decision
making within the team. Bonnington was stretched to the limit in his own bid for the
summit and describes how he was helped by the men around him. He also shares his thoughts
as he approached the summit. He takes the audience step by step up Everest in such a vivid
way that they share in the exhilaration of the climb. Yet he constantly draws parallels
between the effort on the mountain and their realities in the business and management
world.
SUCCEEDING WITH CHANGE
The successful climber does not fight his environment. He
or she must become attuned to it; interpreting the signs and taking appropriate action .
He needs to adapt his strategies to the changing realities of the elements, the terrain
and the capabilities of the other team members.
Indeed climbing provides a strong metaphor for the many,
at times traumatic changes that today are taking place throughout the work place. Chris
Bonnington tells a series of dramatic stories to underline the lessons to be learnt and to
help build a strategy for life - not just to survive - but to succeed and prosper.
He uses many powerful images including the
story of his epic descent of the Ogre with Doug Scott, who broke both legs just below the
summit. They were engulfed by storm and went without food for five days. Bonnington also
fell, broke his ribs and caught pneumonia, but through using all their skills and working
positively they not only survived the experience but gained from it.
"We have access to everyone who speaks".
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this speaker
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