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As the business environment becomes more difficult, executives are The outcomes have been astounding and for some people, life-
searching for inspiration and how they might develop exceptional changing.
strategies and competitive advantage. Few would expect to find the
most cutting edge thinking in these areas from their accountants - “As a result of our trips, we have had one client suddenly decide to
especially as the programmes include spending time in hostile retire and follow his real dreams, while two more decided to sell their
environments and in some of the most emotive, inspirational and businesses to concentrate on what they really wanted to do.”
iconic places on earth. Professionals who have been on the trips also rave about them.
'It was fascinating and inspiring to spend time with entrepreneurs who
That is what makes Tenon, one of the country’s top 10 accountancy are so passionate about business,” Warren Sadler, a partner at Lamb
firms, so unusual. Mark Lucas head of the Tenon Corporate Finance Brooks Solicitors says, “and I learned a lot from the working sessions
division, wanted something different for his clients and colleagues, which were well-planned and structured. Upon my return to the office,
something so different that it would challenge and inspire them to look I have already set up a plan to implement a more customer-focused
at their work, business - even their lives - in a completely different way. approach and support-based service to our clients.”
‘Something so different’ took the form of entrepreneur and adventurer So what was it that created such shifts in thinking? The Great Wall of
Anthony Willoughby who guides small groups of executives to East China programme is quite simple. During the day there are workshops
Africa, China and Papua New Guinea to enjoy ‘lessons of life on territory mapping, in the evening participants sit together discussing
experience’ similar to those that shaped his philosophy and beliefs their businesses and their lives, drinking champagne then sleeping
(see panel on the next page), but in slightly more controlled under the night sky. A four mile walk along the Wall on Day 2 adds a
environments, and professionally facilitated, so that the experiences physical challenge; while such a distance may not appear that
can be directly linked back to business issues, opportunities and daunting, in that sector of the wall the hills are steep and the terrain
barriers. To enhance communication on his programmes he uses a challenging.
process he has developed called Territory Mapping which was
inspired by conversations he had with various indigenous tribes who “I think what really gets to people is that the training, the workshops and
told him about the importance of ‘knowing your territory’. Territory the stunning environment eventually get them to open up about
Mapping was recently described in The Independent as a process themselves,” Lucas says. “They know they are among like-minded
“that enables you to crash through civilization and see where you are people and they begin to share ideas and dreams. It is something
and where you are going with new clarity.” they never normally have the chance to do in their daily business lives.
I call it the Lonely at the Top Club. What is so amazing is that there is
It was this spirit of adventure, challenge and fresh perspectives that such an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect that individuals can
attracted Mark Lucas and two years ago, the first Tenon party left for speak with tremendous candour about things they would not discuss
China. with anyone else.”
“We took about 20 financial services clients to China in 2006,” he says, One of Tenon’s clients said he got more from one trip to the Wall than
“then six months later we took 18 regional directors from our firm and he did from a year’s membership of an entrepreneurs’ club for which
we have been running the trips ever since.” the annual dues are £10,000.
Mark Lucas of Tenon learning warrior skills
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