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LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS FROM THE ENDURANCE

THE STORY OF THE ENDURANCE

Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance planned to become the first team to navigate across Antarctica through the South Pole. The Endurance got caught in the ice in the Weddell Sea. In the spring thaw, the ship was crushed and sank. Leaving the crew on the ice. “The boss” as Shackleton’s men called him used his personal leadership and team leadership to save every member from certain death.

We love the Endurance, her crew of explorers and their fearless leader and can learn many things from Shackleton’s leadership style, gaining insights from the Endurance mission and its crew. A team member who ran tours into the Antarctic shared the story and we designed an immersive leadership experience about it called Lead the Endurance. Lead the Endurance is a beloved executive and senior leader development program that is participant-driven. Participants apply leadership insights from what and how Shackleton solved the challenges the team faced.

The Endurance

LEADERSHIP LEARNING FROM THE “GREATEST LEADERSHIP STORY EVER”

In considering the plight of the Endurance, we’re astounding how well the crew fared in the most desolate conditions. Not a single crew member died, and upon rescue all were reported to be in good spirits. Weather, darkness, boredom, minimal supplies, and a bleak outlook with no chance of rescue should have crushed their morale. Yet the crew with their leader always found the willingness to push on. So, participants explore what drove them to survive inside such difficult circumstances.

FINDING THE ENDURANCE

We are pleased to announce that on March 7th, 2022, the ship – the Endurance was discovered over 3 km or 1.9 miles below the surface of the Weddell Sea in March, 2022. This amazing discovery adds a new module to Lead the Endurance and acts as a reminder of the enduring perseverance of Shackleton and his crew.

GAINING INSIGHT INTO HOW STRONG TEAMS ARE FORMED 

What leadership insights do participants gain from their experience? In spite of their losses, the crew of the Endurance shared a strong sense of unity, vision, and purpose. Their leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton instilled a strong sense of meaning and purpose. He was able to connect each crew member to the big picture, so everyone knew their role and the importance of their contribution.

ADAPTING TO CHALLENGES 

While few organizations ever find themselves literally stranded in the Antarctic, every participant argues that they’ve encountered hardships that evoked similar feelings. Low engagement, hostile teams, unclear vision, or an inability to produce meaningful results are common place. These challenges mirror the nature of challenges confronted by the crew of the Endurance. Every leader has faced challenges that would make for a desperate and uncertain organizational future.

INSIGHTS INTO LEADERSHIP AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT 

Lead the Endurance focuses on leadership insights. Then participants explore and apply the insights to lead differently. Here are two leadership insights from Shackleton’s experience with the Endurance.

LEADERSHIP MEANS CREATING YOUR TEAM, EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE THEM

Shackleton looked for explorers who not only had specific technical skills. He looked for individuals who demonstrated the personal characteristics to endure the physical hardship. He sought individuals who had innate qualities to endure hardship. He fostered an environment for others to work together in any situation. Traits like a sense of humour, ability to play music, inventiveness, awareness of others.  The connectedness that helps moderate one’s self and ensures the team works regardless of the circumstances. He sifted through 5,000 applications to select a crew who demonstrated the character required for such a journey. Such a great lesson for all leaders!

 

BUILDING MORALE AND CREATING VALUABLE RELATIONSHIPS 

The initial investments in selecting the right people paid huge dividends when their circumstances shifted dramatically. The time they spent stranded was an experience few would ever share. Shackleton invested even more time overtly caring for the crew, ensuring morale, deepening relationships and encouraged the leaders to do the same.

As leaders, we don’t always get to choose our team. Sometimes we do. Yet they are on the journey with us. By getting to know each team member personally and professionally, we become better equipped to coach, develop and lead our teams. When we know our people, we see opportunities to develop and leverage skills to create results.

In business, there is always a team, so we must choose wisely. When you can’t choose, invest.

LEADERSHIP MEANS CONFRONTING AND JETTISONING BAGGAGE TO REDUCE DRAG

With the loss of the Endurance, all thoughts of the transcontinental journey had to be abandoned.  The focus of the Expedition shifted to one of straight-forward survival. Shackleton illustrated how to lead in these moments. To set an example for the crew, he dumped his most-prized possessions. His grandfather’s gold pocket watch, the ship’s log, and his personal cache of gold coins were all dumped onto the ice. They were “simply unnecessary for the voyage.” Shackleton’s action signalled the importance of dumping baggage to the team. The material possessions that were discarded represented important aspects of their lives – family, the crew’s past, and wealth. Yet these burdens may have tired the crew further and led to loss of life.

As leaders, we must, distinguish the essential from the trivial. Then take the necessary steps to discard that which does not help us achieve our goals. Shackleton took steps to ensure the baggage didn’t return. He promoted only forward movement, and prevented a slippage into old priorities. As leaders, often the past can prove worthless in present circumstances.

LEADING YOUR TEAM WITH FOCUS

Shackleton embodied a purposeful leadership style. He was the very embodiment of adaptive leadership. Adapting to every new challenge to save the crew. He was able to distinguish between the essential, and what was peripheral. By intentionally crafting a cohesive team and identifying baggage to dump, he kept the crew invested in the immediate challenge.

QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING TEAM DEVELOPMENT

What investments could you make in your team? What baggage do you carry with you, and what can you part with? What leadership insights have you gained? These questions fuel the insights in Lead the Endurance.

LEARN TO LEAD YOUR TEAM WITH LEAD THE ENDURANCE

Please reach out to speak with a facilitator if you are interested in getting certified to deliver this amazing leadership experience. If you are interested in taking a team of emerging leaders, senior leaders, high potential leaders or executives, please head to the page on the leader development program.

 

About Author

Doug Bolger is the world’s foremost instructional designer for participant-driven designs. He is changing how the world works, by changing how the world learns.

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