LEADING AT THE EDGE Extraordinary Lessons from the Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition by Dennis N.T. Perkins

TOPICS 1. Vision and quick victories 2. Set a personal example 3. Optimism and reality 4. Maintain your stamina 5. The team message 6. Core team values 7. Managing conflict 8. Lighten up! 9. Be willing to risk 10. Tenacious creativity

VISION AND QUICK VICTORIES Never lose sight of ultimate goal Never lose sight of ultimate goal Focus on short term objectives Focus on short term objectives Take concrete action to create momentum Take concrete action to create momentum Overcome uncertainty with structure Overcome uncertainty with structure Sense when individuals are becoming Sense when individuals are becoming overwhelmed overwhelmed

SET A PERSONAL EXAMPLE Be visible Be visible Take symbolic action to inspire Take symbolic action to inspire Give the right speech at the right time Give the right speech at the right time Correct mistakes and move on Correct mistakes and move on

OPTIMISM AND REALITY Instill optimism and confidence, but stay Instill optimism and confidence, but stay grounded in reality grounded in reality Cultivate optimism in yourself Cultivate optimism in yourself Use positive inner dialogue Use positive inner dialogue Reframe tough situations in positive light Reframe tough situations in positive light Select people for important key roles Select people for important key roles

MAINTAIN YOUR STAMINA Take care of yourself Take care of yourself Demonstrate concern for others Demonstrate concern for others Monitor the health of those on your team Monitor the health of those on your team Avoid “summit fever” Avoid “summit fever” Find outlets for your own feelings Find outlets for your own feelings

THE TEAM MESSAGE Reinforce the team message constantly Reinforce the team message constantly Establish a team identity Establish a team identity Create a value statement Create a value statement Nurture bonds of communication Nurture bonds of communication Leverage everyone’s talents Leverage everyone’s talents Teach at the individual level Teach at the individual level

ESTABLISH CORE TEAM CULTURE Minimize status differences Minimize status differences Insist on mutual respect and courtesy Insist on mutual respect and courtesy Establish caring environment Establish caring environment

MANAGE CONFLICT IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS Keep abreast of mounting tensions Keep abreast of mounting tensions Avoid needless power struggles Avoid needless power struggles Create effective process for problem- solving Create effective process for problem- solving Emphasize teamwork Emphasize teamwork

LIGHTEN UP! Find something to celebrate Find something to celebrate Find things to laugh about Find things to laugh about Adopt a playful attitude Adopt a playful attitude Laugh with, not at Laugh with, not at Laugh at yourself Laugh at yourself

BE WILLING TO RISK Acknowledge when things need Acknowledge when things need to be changed to be changed Recognize the danger involved Recognize the danger involved Take the risk of doing things differently Take the risk of doing things differently

RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX DO IT! Take the risk Best Case Best Case ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ Worst Case Worst Case ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ DON’T DO IT! Don’t take the risk the risk ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

TENACIOUS CREATIVITY Be prepared for things to go wrong Be prepared for things to go wrong Mobilize the team’s collective creativity to Mobilize the team’s collective creativity to find a solution find a solution Never give up Never give up