“You Wait. Everyone has an Antarctic” (Thomas Pynchon)

Shackleton's Way is one of the most inspiring stories I have ever read. It is a true story about “the greatest leader that ever came on God’s earth”, a story about honesty, solicitousness, selflessness, freedom, kindness, optimism, generosity,  loyalty, respect, compassion. A story about love and respect, for yourself and for others.

A must read: Shackleton's Way, by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell

On August 5th, 1914, Ernst Shackleton departs for the Antarctic expedition, from South Georgia, with the boat “Endurance” and  his 27 men crew. On January 18th, 1915 Endurance is trapped in ice, not far from the expedition’s intended landing site. On October 27th, 1915 the crew abandons the ship that is crushed by the ice. After months spent on ice floes, the men embark three small lifeboats and start sailing looking for land. They end up on the Elephant Island which they called a “Hell of an Island” – “stinking, wet and dangerous”. Shackleton left the Island on the April 24th 1916, with a small crew and the best of the three boats, to look for help. After 16 days of sailing they reached South Georgia and they needed another 10 days and super powers to cross the inhospitable land to reach the whale station where they could ask for help. On August 30th 1916, Shackleton came to the rescue of the men stranded on the Elephant Island. First he asked them: “Are you all well?” 

Even if the expedition didn't reach its initial purpose, Shackleton reached the only goal he cared about: bring all his men safe, back.

How did he succeeded, when all the odds were against him? My notes below on Shackleton’s Way of leading:

• The values you learn from your family are of a great help in forming you as a leader. Those values are honesty, solicitousness, selflessness, freedom, kindness, optimism, generosity,  loyalty, respect, compassion
• Being a life long student, searching guidance and wisdom in the books he read
• Open to any opportunities
• Careful with planning, paying attention to details
• Learning from past mistakes, he knew what he doesn’t want to be
• Always putting the well-being of his team first
• He always engaged in respectful competition with rivals
• Bringing out the best in human beings
• Hired people that shared the same values and vision and that are best at what they do, hard-working and talented, enthusiasts.
• Most of all he hired the people that had the experience he lacked. A leader is not afraid of competition.
• He made clear all his objectives and expectations. He provides people with the best tools available. He knows anything else would be waste of time and money.
• Created a team spirit – always observing and paying attentions to everyone’s concerns, The Boss treated everyone with the same respect and consideration. He created an atmosphere of security, trust and camaraderie.
• Shackleton  led by example, he would participate to the daily tasks and would complete in the best possible way and with the most enthusiasm, setting standards and inspiring his team.
• “He led, he did not drive”
• Shackleton had a vision and rules, but he was flexible and sensitive to change, and he would change his strategy along the way if the situation would require it. But he would only change something if he had the conviction that it will bring an improvement of the situation.
• Shackleton was interested in his men’s mental and physical health and he would focus on keeping them always cheerful and motivated. He brought the best out of them, giving them feed-back, correct them when they made mistakes and was interested in the human aspect of each of them.
• When they reached the crisis, he didn’t change his ways, but cultivated the same values and spirit and kept everyone optimistic about the future, but with a real sense of their situation.
• Shackleton was leading with only one goal in mind, to bring the men safe, home. His determination, along with his faith and willing power, made him go beyond his limits and inspired the rest of the crew to do the same.