The Heroic Hearts spirit speaks of Teamwork, Leadership, Solidarity, Synergy, Movement and the Dynamism of the Human Spirit.

After four deaths on his first expedition to Everest, Jim was determined to return to the mountain with a radically new approach – a value alignment that would knit together a committed group of individuals into a resilient, creative team that could respond dynamically to the constantly changing conditions of the extreme environment of Everest. A team of heroes, in fact.

The heroism Jim speaks of is not particularly his own; it is the authentic heroism of each of the members of his team who not only mastered their roles but continually found new ways to help fulfill their expedition’s vision, pushing beyond their perceived limits, even when they knew they themselves had no chance of standing on the summit.

This is a deeply engaging story of teamwork and unparalleled success, presenting a style of leadership that does not grab for the spotlight, but effectively draws almost superhuman performance from the entire team.

The title of this presentation is drawn from the famous closing lines of Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses:

“. . . that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Drawing out a code of values and behaviors that remind everyone of what it takes for ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results, the lessons of Everest easily translate to the world of business, revealing what it takes to be a great leader and an engaged team member.

Seven essential leadership and team principals are explored through the Everest lens:

1. Vision: never lose sight of the summit; focus energy on short-term milestones;
2. Creativity and Flexibility: leaders must define goals then redefine them when the situation calls for it;
3. Point of No Return: to achieve the extraordinary you will have to go beyond your point of no return;
4. Principle Leadership Competency: enlistment through common ground;
5. Accountability: everyone shares responsibility for the team’s success;
6. Value Teaming: values and vision are equal partners; values are more sustaining under pressure;
7. Teamwork: keep people informed, engaged, and thinking about solutions.

Built on the foundation of Jim’s DVD series Create It-Embrace It-Believe It-Live It

Themes: Safety Behavior, Safety Culture, Safety Leadership, Safety Teams, Values, Beliefs, Attitudes

“None of the summits I have reached compare to the satisfaction of my accomplishment of leading a tight-knit team that set the standard for the highest safety objectives in the most seriously hazardous environment.” – Jim Elzinga

Emotionally and dramatically engaging, Jim’s keynote is a different approach to speaking about safety – this is a tale of high adventure, with a powerful message offering a down-to- earth practical approach to influencing safety behavior.

“Walking away from the devastating experience of losing four lives in Canada’s first Everest expedition, my friends and I were determined to return with a new style of climbing, a new style of leadership, and an unswerving commitment to the safety of everyone involved. And we succeeded! That experience taught me that it is possible to pursue the most demanding goals and still keep the values of trust, integrity and safety intact.” – Jim Elzinga

Shifting Safety Behaviors

Jim’s keynote delivers a powerful message about the importance of integrating leadership, individual responsibility and mutual accountability in the combination of choices and actions that we call safety behaviors. The sum total of these behaviors along with the values, beliefs and attitudes that underlie them make up a safety culture.

These gripping stories of challenge and success on Everest stimulate meaningful learning opportunities. The mountain and its hazards act as a compelling metaphor for the day-to- day challenges of achieving great things in the workplace while maintaining the highest safety standards

The importance of values in an effective safety culture is a well-worn truism in our business – Jim’s story of his team’s return to Everest is a demonstration of putting those values into action, staying aligned and committed through very challenging circumstances, and ultimately achieving great things safely.

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