Ernest Shackleton: High-Stakes Leadership
Ernest Shackleton: High-Stakes Leadership
The topic of this leadership case study is Ernest Shackleton. This paper will identify the development of Shackleton's leadership skills, provide examples and reflections of his abilities, and relate how he played an essential role in one of history's greatest survival stories. This study of Shackleton's leadership is set loosely within the framework of the five practices of exemplary leadership set forth in The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, and will focus on the benefits produced by his management of team morale and unity (13). Kouzes and Posner remark that leadership experiences are "voyages of discovery and adventures of a lifetime [and] they are challenging explorations under rigorous conditions" (174). While this may be true, it is often in an extreme crisis situation that leadership is ultimately tested. This is the circumstance that Shackleton faced with his crew of twenty-seven, while stranded in the ice floes off the Antarctic Continent. Credit is due to the leadership of Ernest Shackleton; every member aboard the Endurance survived, and was finally rescued after six hundred and thirty-four days. Shackleton said of leadership, "If you're a leader, a fellow that other fellows look to, you've got to keep going" (qtd. in Morrell and Capparell 215).
Synopsis of the Endurance ExpeditionSee Appendix (Pages 19-21)
The Endurance, the vessel carrying the men and the title of the expedition, was named by Shackleton after his family mottoFortitudine Vincimus (By endurance we conquer) (Perkins 41). To relate the significant factors of Shackleton's leadership during the Endurance expedition, it is necessary to summarize the timeline of the events. A chronological timeline of the expedition is included at the end of this paper.
The saga of the Endurance has relevant lessons for today's leaders concerning the vital nature of team unity and interdependence, risk taking, optimism, and selfless leadership.
The topic of this leadership case study is Ernest Shackleton. This paper will identify the development of Shackleton's leadership skills, provide examples and reflections of his abilities, and relate how he played an essential role in one of history's greatest survival stories. This study of Shackleton's leadership is set loosely within the framework of the five practices of exemplary leadership set forth in The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner, and will focus on the benefits produced by his management of team morale and unity (13). Kouzes and Posner remark that leadership experiences are "voyages of discovery and adventures of a lifetime [and] they are challenging explorations under rigorous conditions" (174). While this may be true, it is often in an extreme crisis situation that leadership is ultimately tested. This is the circumstance that Shackleton faced with his crew of twenty-seven, while stranded in the ice floes off the Antarctic Continent. Credit is due to the leadership of Ernest Shackleton; every member aboard the Endurance survived, and was finally rescued after six hundred and thirty-four days. Shackleton said of leadership, "If you're a leader, a fellow that other fellows look to, you've got to keep going" (qtd. in Morrell and Capparell 215).
Synopsis of the Endurance ExpeditionSee Appendix (Pages 19-21)
The Endurance, the vessel carrying the men and the title of the expedition, was named by Shackleton after his family mottoFortitudine Vincimus (By endurance we conquer) (Perkins 41). To relate the significant factors of Shackleton's leadership during the Endurance expedition, it is necessary to summarize the timeline of the events. A chronological timeline of the expedition is included at the end of this paper.
The saga of the Endurance has relevant lessons for today's leaders concerning the vital nature of team unity and interdependence, risk taking, optimism, and selfless leadership.