Leading Teams with Resilience

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Ernest Shackleton

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1914Endurance Expedition

Launched

1908-1913Celebrated & Knighted

as Hero

1874Born

1890-4Joins

Merchant Marines

1880’sNot Much of a

Student 1904Married

1901-1903Discovery Expedition

Fallout with Scott

1907ShackletonExpedition

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1890’s Completes his Master’s Certificate: Seamanship

1911: Amundsen reaches the South Pole

Leadership Journey: Ernest Shackleton

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Your ice field

1. What is your sea ice? How is your ship stuck?Try and be specific

2. How are you and your fellow leaders responding?

3. How effective are you at this?

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“For scientific leadership give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”

—Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

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Shackleton’s Way

Shackleton’s Way

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Building Morale

“The watch is set from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. for tonight. One hour each and each tent in rotation. My tent starts at 11 p.m. with Blackboro and ends with myself.”

— Frank Worsley, expedition journal

Shackleton’s Way

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All Aboard!

“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe returns doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.”

— Ernest Shackleton 1914, Newspaper Recruitment Notice

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True motivators – part of the work itself

• The feeling that other people depend on you

• The feeling of accomplishment

• Personal growth

• Professional development

• Interesting work

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How will you create a more positive, productive and energizing environment for your people?

What’s your banjo?

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Creating Optimism

“Optimism is true moral courage.”

—ShackletonShackleton’s

Way

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The Power of Optimism

Pessimists might be more accurate in their predictions, but optimists are more successful

—based on Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD

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The Power of Realistic Optimism

“What we want is not blind optimism but flexible optimism – optimism with its eyes open. We must be able to use pessimism’s keen sense of reality when we need it, but without having to dwell in its dark shadows. The benefits of this kind of optimism are, I believe, without limit”

—Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD

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Seven Tips for Building Realistic Optimism

1. Focus on Possibilities2. Celebrate Successes3. Cultivate a Sense of Humor4. Remain Realistic5. Value Self-Improvement6. Seek to be Experimental7. Take Personal Responsibility

What can you do more of?

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Leading By Example

“He is indefatigable, up all day and night on the bridge and in the crow’s nest and yet always the most cheerful amongst us and finding time for a game of Bridge or Patience, of both of which he is very fond”

—Thomas Orde-Lees, expedition journal

Shackleton’s Way

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Staying calm in crisesmodeling the behavior he wanted his men to follow

“Sir Ernest, standing on the deck, calmly surveying the movements of the ice, and giving an occasional peremptory order. Sledges and all gear are being rapidly accumulated on deck, without the slightest discomposure, as though it were ordinary, routine duty.”

—Frank Hurley, expedition journal

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How can you lead by example?

• What do you want your people or organization to show more or less of?

• What can you model for others?

• What do you need to change to do this?

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“If you’re a leader, a fellow that other fellows look to, you’ve got to keep going.”

—Ernest Shackleton