SHACKLETON'S WAY

One of my summer reading books was, Shackleton's Way by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell.  Ernest Shackelton was an early 20th century explorer, most well-known for his Antarctic exploration in which he and his crew survived a two year, twelve hundred mile journey.

I have summarized the key leadership points from the book here.  How does this relate to you and your position?  What is most important?

1-      The Path To Leadership

-          Learned from his family a broad and sympathetic view of the world that helped to shape his leadership style

-          Once a choice was made, he saw his commitments through to the end

-          Read often to find wisdom and guidance

-          Turn a setback into an opportunity

-          Learned from his past mistakes.  Experience taught him the kind of leader he didn’t want to be.

-          Always put the well-being of his crew first.

2-      Hire an Outstanding Crew

-          Hired those who shared his vision and enthusiasm for exploration, were reliable, loyal, optimist, team players, hard workers, and who had the skills and expertise he lacked

3-      Create a Spirit of Camaraderie

-          Made himself accessible to his crew, listened to their concerns, and kept them informed about the ship’s business

-          Shackleton worked right alongside the men doing the same job

-          Relaxation and entertainment (celebrations) were critical parts of the schedule

4-      Get the Best from Each Individual

-          To maintain morale, allow each man to put his personal stamp on his surroundings

-          Made sure each man had challenging and meaningful work

-          Gave his men constant feedback, praising their efforts and correcting their mistakes

5-      Lead Effectively in a Crisis

-          Addressed his men, leaving no doubt that he was in charge and would get them through the crisis if they would stick together and trust him

-          Made contingency plans while still being flexible

-          Kept the malcontent close to him to contain their effect and to try to win them over

-          Kept a sense of humor

-          Sought out advice but made final decisions alone

6-      Form Teams for Tough Assignments

-          Intentionally organized teams around personalities and ability to work together

-          Trusted his team leaders but always kept an eye on each individual

7-      Overcome Obstacles to Reach a Goal

-          Take extreme risks when options are narrowed

-          Shook his companions hands in a gesture of congratulations