Leading at The Edge: Preface and Chapter 1

The story of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition is incredible and although the main focus of this book is on his leadership skills, I could not help but enjoy the narrative aspects of the book as well. It seems extraordinary that Shackleton and his crew managed to survive in such difficult conditions. I find it hard to imagine just how terrible the situation was, but there is no denying that it was a matter of life and death and that these explorers were literally standing at 'The Edge.' It really is miraculous that no one died on this expedition (apart from the dogs), but it was more than just luck that they were able to survive and without Shackleton and his leadership, who knows what might have happened to them?

Chapter one talks about the first strategy of leadership and that is the ability to know the over-all goal whilst achieving short-term aims. Shackleton is a great example, and what I thought was inspiring was the fact that he quickly managed to refocus his main goal from crossing the Antarctica to going back home. After the ship was destroyed by the ice, he did not panic but simply said, "So now we'll go home." There is something reassuring about his words that could have helped the other members to stay calm. Also, this was a time when people raced to the pole, and being the first to cross the Antarctica would have meant a great deal to Shackleton. However, he was quick in making the decision to change his plans and return home. After setting the new goal, he focused on what they could do right there and then. Now their task was to reach open water, but dragging the lifeboats seemed impossible so Shackleton decided that it was better for them to camp. This flexibility of mind as well as the constant focus on both the long-term and short-term goals made Shackleton a successful leader at 'The Edge.'

Although in the case of Shackleton 'The Edge' was a little extreme, the same leadership qualities are just as important in normal life circumstances. Whether it is at work or in school, there needs to be a leader in order for that organisation or group to cooperate and achieve a common goal. Shackleton showed great leadership in a life-threatening situation and even though our lives may not be as perilous, the core strategies of leadership stay the same. We need to be aware of the ultimate goal and focus on the short-term aims through the process, but we must also remember that leaders need to be adaptable to change.