The Shared Climb: Community, Collaboration, and Conversations
I recently had a unique opportunity to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan. My oldest daughter is an adventure travel blogger, (you can find her blog at maximizingmypto.com and on Instagram and YouTube by the same name) and she and her husband explore amazing places around the world. When they invited me to join them, I knew I would need to prepare for the hike to Tiger’s Nest. I have arthritis and some weakness in my knees, so I trained for more than a year.
I thought I thought I was ready. The hike was beyond my ability. For someone with strong legs it might not be hard. For me it was a real climb. I worried about slowing Thomas and Jackie down. They understood my limitations, and together with our guides we made a simple plan, start early, go together, pace for the slowest, celebrate at the top. We paused when I needed to, shared encouragement, reached the monastery, and cheered as a team. (Bhutan is amazing and Tiger’s Nest is breathtaking). It was not about speed. It was about finishing together.
That rhythm has stayed with me because it mirrors what I try to build in my work as a speaker and in my role with the Austin Technology Council. The real work of a city, a company, or a professional community is not a solo sprint. The climb is shared. The win is shared. The lessons are shared.
Start Early
In Bhutan an early start keeps you ahead of the crowds and the heat. In community building an early start means you publish the purpose and the people before anyone arrives. Tell attendees why the gathering exists, who will be in the room, and how to connect. Give speakers and hosts the guest list and a few prompts so they can welcome others with intention. When we start early, we reduce confusion and make space for real conversations.
Practical ways to start early
1. Send a short welcome note that includes the purpose of the event and three people to meet.
2. Share a few conversation prompts that spark dialogue, not status updates.
3. Open the doors a little early and greet people by name.
Go Together
On a trail you go together by staying within sight, calling out slick stones, and encouraging steady steps. In a professional community you go together by designing formats that create dialogue rather than one way broadcasts. Panels can include structured audience questions. Roundtables can mix roles and levels. Hosts can introduce newcomers to connectors. When we go together, we build trust in the room and momentum beyond the room.
Practical ways to go together
1. Assign visible hosts whose job is to introduce people and braid conversations.
2. Use table prompts that invite everyone to speak once before anyone speaks twice.
3. Add a short facilitated small group exchange after keynotes so people process ideas with peers.
Pace for the Slowest
On the mountain the slowest person sets the real pace. That can frustrate achievers, yet it is the speed of trust. In an ecosystem or team it looks like clear wayfinding, warm welcomes, inclusive language, and quiet spaces that let newcomers and introverts find a rhythm. It looks like documentation that helps a new hire catch up. It looks like leaders who notice who has not spoken and invite their voice.
Practical ways to pace for the slowest
1. Provide clear signage, agendas, and maps so no one feels lost.
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2. Build in short breaks that become organic networking moments.
3. In meetings, appoint a sweeper whose role is to notice confusion, surface questions, and make sure decisions are captured.
Celebrate at the Top
At Tiger’s Nest we took a breath, smiled at each other, and cherished what we accomplished. That is a good habit to bring home. In our work we can close gatherings with gratitude, credit the volunteers and connectors, and share one lesson we want to carry forward. Celebration does not have to be loud. It needs to be specific and sincere.
Practical ways to celebrate
1. End with a two minute thank you round where you name people who created value for others.
2. Ring a small bell or raise a hand when a milestone is met, then share one lesson into a common notes page.
3. Send a short follow up that highlights three connections made at the event and one next step for the community.
A Simple Scorecard for Connection
If we want more Community, more Collaboration, and more Conversations, we can measure what matters.
• Inclusion rate, the percent of attendees or team members who contributed at least once.
• Assist count, the number of helpful acts we can name at the end of a session.
• Pace fit, a quick pulse on whether the agenda matched the capacity of the newest or quietest person.
• Summit to descent time, how quickly we share a short recap and next steps after the milestone.
• Carry forward, how many practices from this event we will reuse at the next one.
Why This Matters
Bhutan values culture, service, and well being as part of progress. That mindset translates. Companies and communities thrive when people feel seen, when voices are welcomed, and when we make room for the slowest member of the climb. In my keynote work I often say that all opportunities come from people. That is not a slogan. It is a plan. The best projects, careers, and cities grow from the quality of the conversations we host and the trust we extend.
Try One Change
At your next meeting or event, choose one small design choice that makes the summit feel shared. Publish the purpose early, add a visible host team, try a short gratitude moment at the end. Notice what changes in the energy and the outcomes, then tell someone about it so they can try it too.
The climbing of a mountain teaches a simple truth. We go farther when we go together, and we remember the climb when we celebrate the helpers at the top.
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Thom Singer, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO of the Austin Technology council.
