Surfing Culture Can Teach Leaders

by Pamela Coleman

August 2025

Goofy-footed. Frothing. Shredding. Hang ten. Snaking. Trim. Impact zone.

These terms all mean something to surfers, and when they talk dudette-to-dude, they get it. Men and women dress in particular hang-loose ways, flip flops, hemp bracelets, cotton tees, and colorful, loose baggies. Surf shops sell gear for time on the board and the beach.

Surfing requires skill, but the sport is not just about mastery on the board. These athletes sit patiently waiting for a wave, floating as whales surface or large blooms of jellyfish drift with the swells. Surfing is an act of humility; it forges a connection with nature and makes no effort to tame it. The board becomes a spiritual sanctuary, a meditative refuge that clears the surfer’s mind. Somehow, we non-surfers get surf culture, even if we have not donned a wetsuit or chased storm swells.

Surfers have a culture that fosters a shared experience. How does your culture hang together? What experiences are you creating for your team? What are you shaping by the behaviors you model and the decisions you make?

If you find dissonance, how do you address it? I have tools to help! Reach out!