5 days total, 3 days of walking, 10 hours each day. Wind in my face. Rain in my boots. Tent poles in my hand.

All in the name of CoppaFeel!, the only youth-focused breast cancer awareness charity.

I signed up for this challenge (it’s my 5th for this charity) and got a masterclass in human behaviour.

Here’s what those 72 soggy, freezing, relentless hours in Iceland taught me – lessons that every leader, HR professional and team builder should sit up and pay attention to.

Adversity Strips Back the Mask

When you’re wet, tired, and hungry, your real self shows up. You can’t stop it!
It’s like DISC in 4D and on speed. The High D’s powered through the terrain. High I’s (yep, me) used every effort to rally spirits. High S’s quietly helped others who were feeling low and struggling and the High C’s kept us on track when times and logic were low and tents needed going up.

In business:
We often work with and manage the polished version of people but when pressure hits, the deadlines, conflict, failure, this is when real behaviour surfaces. That’s what you need to understand and manage, not just what’s on the CV.

Not Everyone Communicates in a Crisis
Some struggled to talk when they hit emotional or physical lows. Others masked it with banter or selfies. This wasn’t about strength or weakness. It was about how we all have different coping styles and techniques. How do you read these?

In business:
In the workplace, don’t assume silence = strength or that chatty = fine. Emotional intelligence means tuning into how different people express stress – or in some cases don’t.

Leadership Isn’t About Being Loud – It’s About Being Present
We had celebrity captains: Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks. Some came for selfies.

But the real impact was made by those who showed up consistently – carried a pack, offered a hand or simply said, “You okay?” And then listened deeply for the reply.

In business:
Leadership isn’t about being centre-stage. It’s about being with your people. Being present, being aware, being reliable and trustworthy – especially when the metaphorical storm hits. Giving people a space to feel emotional supported is not a nice to have is a MUST have in today world.

Teams Aren’t Built in the Sunshine
You want to build team trust fast? Don’t give them a book to read, give them a life affirming assault course. Give them mud, wet socks – oh and no phone signal.

In business:
Want real connection on your team? Create shared experiences that challenge comfort zones. That’s where vulnerability lives and that’s where real bonds form.

We All Cross Rivers Differently
Some people jumped straight in (literally with boots on, I did but that was an accident!). Some tested every stone. Some needed a hand and some did NOT. No one way was right. But every approach required support and non-judgement form the Charity Challenge Leaders

In business:
We all move through change differently, we all need to go on the journey, some need time and detail some just eat to get there as quick as possible. Fast doesn’t mean better. Cautious doesn’t mean weak. What matters is how we support each and every person pace with empathy and trust.

Behaviour is the Bottom Line
That Iceland trek wasn’t just a charity challenge – it was a crash course in human dynamics.

• Your team’s real behaviour appears in the rain.
• Your culture shows up when no one’s watching.
• Your leadership is tested when everything goes against you.

So the my question to you:

Are you building a business that thrives in the sunshine – or one that can trek through the storm?

Want your team to behave better? Lead better? Connect better?

Start by understanding what’s underneath the behaviour because whether you’re in a boardroom or on a windswept glacier, that’s what drives performance.