Mike House

Mike House's Biography

Mike House is one of Australia’s leading survival instructors and a highly experienced facilitator.

He has spent 20 years working with groups as diverse as youth at risk, multinational corporations and television documentary crews on what has been described as the “world’s most arduous survival exercise outside the military” (National Geographic America 1999).

Mike has survived several life-threatening survival situations on the ocean, in tropical jungles, in raging white-water and extended sea kayak journeys.

As a birthday present to himself, Mike undertook a 12 day solo survival walk in one of Australia’s most hostile environments, taking 2 litres of water, a pocket sized survival kit and the clothes on his back. Mike put his survival skills to the test sourcing all his food and water off the land – and loved the experience!

By observing and leading people in complex situations of extreme deprivation and duress, Mike has developed keen insight for how humans either panic and suffer or adapt and thrive. He sees the same behaviours in ordinary workplaces and shows people how to view their work, daily tasks, relationships and opportunities through new eyes.

It is that depth of experience and wisdom that makes working with Mike informative, colourful, deep and profound.

Mike is passionate about developing great teams, lead by inspiring people who thrive and adapt, regardless of the circumstances they face. He likes to leave a trail of "Raving Fans" and is passionate about understanding exactly what his clients need.

Growing up on a farm in the south west of WA, Mike spent his formative years exploring and observing the bush, sometimes alone, sometimes with his father who holds generations of wisdom, and sometimes with Noongar people who hold millennia of wisdom.

Fundamental survival instincts are hard wired into us as human beings and have a profound impact on our success in business, relationships, and change environments. Using insights from the natural environment, survival experience and psychology (both ancient and modern) and current leadership models and theories, Mike will introduce you to readily applicable knowledge and tools to transform your results, decrease your stress and bring a greater sense of wonder and joy into your business or personal life.

In a situation like being stranded in the outback or shipwrecked at sea, these skills make the difference between life and death. In business - the death may be metaphorical and take longer - but no less certain if you ignore the fundamentals. Don’t be content to merely survive –Mike can show you how to thrive.

"Whether in business, the bush or life, there are three kinds of situations we face. Survival, Living or Thriving…  All of them require us to be adaptable."

With more than 20 years of expertise, Mike has a comprehensive collection of content and personal stories that are engaging and interactive. Mike's clients find him refreshing, motivational and inspiring.

Speaking Topics Include

Thrive and Adapt - You make many transitions every day: into the morning traffic, the budget meeting, a performance management conversation, welcoming a new staff member. Many transitions require you to change hats, focus and demands extra energy. Each is an opportunity for clarity, presence and focus, but more often there is distraction from the last transition, to the ones coming up, not to mention the constant ping as emails flood your inbox. Discover tactical tools to deal with pressure.

Cool in a Crisis - Will you be in the hot seat when crisis strikes? People are stood up to lead in a crisis when it happens. If it is not your day job, it is a daunting prospect. Cool in a Crisis draws on Mikes work with Police Counter Terrorism, Fire Services, Oil Spill Responders and teams entering geopolitical unstable regions. Filled with practical tips to cool the hot seat!

Making Change Work - Change is relentless and even the best change plans encounter fatigue and resistance. We will explore reasons for resistance and low cost tactics to reduce stress, increase engagement and make change more likely to stick.

Unshakeable - Leaders and teams daily face variables they have no direct control over, from disruptive tech to changing markets or even grumpy reviews on social media. Many teams are rattled by the barrage. Unshakeable leaders and teams create a sense of certainty based on being. They face whatever life throws at them from a solid foundation. Unshakeable teams are more engaged, more productive and more effective. An advantage that multiplies in uncertain times

Council of Wombats - Leaders are often expected to learn how to lead on the job. That can be a challenge for them and their team. The council offers three clear actions which if regularly applied by leaders, will increase their effectiveness.