by Margot Morell and Stephanie Capparell
August 27, 2002
256 pages
The exploits of British explorer Sir Earnest Shackleton are filled with lessons for today’s leaders. Reading them led me to build an entire training course based on them. Of the many books written about him, Shackleton’s Way is my favorite. I was blown away by the hardships he and his men faced and his brilliant methods to overcome them.
Shackleton’s Way chronicles Shackleton’s expeditions to the South Pole in the early 1900’s. The stories represent his early voyages as a crew member through his command of the ill-fated Endurance Expedition. The book examines the lessons he learns along the way, preparing him for incredible adversities he and his party would later face.
Some takeaways you may discover:
· How to grow from your own failures and the shortcomings of others.
· Unconventional ways to build a team.
· Creative ways to build and maintain morale.
· Ways that flexible strategies can withstand rapidly-changing conditions.
· Rules for leading effectively in a crisis.
Fortunately for us, the events of the Endurance Expedition were well-documented, and the book is filled with crew member diary entries and amazing photographs. The authors conclude each chapter with a section entitled, “Working It In”. This section highlights ways that contemporary leaders have been influenced by the Shackleton story.
Most leaders can get through the challenges of the average day but find themselves unprepared for the crisis that demands their absolute best. Those moments rarely end well if you have not prepared in advance. Shackleton’s Way can prepare you to rise to any leadership challenge.
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