About the book

This is not a typical book about leadership. If it ever was ment to be a book about leadership. But great many other books cover Shackelton’s expedition to the South Pole. And in those books this book is introduced in the light of leadership. So I had to read the original one.

How was the actual reading of the book?

Ernest Shackleton was no amateur. This was his third expedition to the South Pole. He spent over four years planning and preparing for this expedition. Leaders of such expeditions must be an extraordinary leader of men. Let’s look at him in detail.

Ernest Shackelton was 40 years old during this mission and he died already when he was 47 years. Shackletons family motto was ”By endurance we conquer”. He was described was romantic, utterly self-reliant and little swashbuckling (rämäpää) as an explorer. And purposeful. But as a person he was described as flamboyant. He had monsterous ego and implacable drive. Critics said that he was immature and irresponsible. Are these typical traits for a great leader? Well, for him at least.

Shackleton motives for the expedition were not all romantic. He was also after the social position and the financial rewards it included. As such we could conclude that he was a start-up entrepreneur of his time. 

About his team mates. Frank Wild was chosen a second-in-command and he was opposite to Shackleton. They formed a perfect match. Plus they had been in the Pole twice before the Endurance expedition. The method of selecting other newcomers in to the expedition was described as capricious. Looks of the men was crucial in the selection process. Shackelton did use some funny questions. Such as the conditions of teeth or can one sing. Maybe Shackleton used the five seconds method for deciding the fit of the man? Nevertheless his decisions proved to be right.

Leadership is a statement.  And that Shackelton knew. One have to show example for others. And this was Shackelton in person. For example left his golden cigarette case and bible behind when they abandoned their ship. In the same circumstances a seaman called Hussey was ordered to take his banjo with. Mostly because singing kept the spirit up. Third example could be that Shackelton wanted to give the credit for begin the first man setting his foot in the Elephant Islands to one of the seamen called Blackboro.

Basic trait for Shackleton was to keep the team close-knit and under his control. He was afraid of demoralization. It was his way to ensure that he could safely lead the team. He also wanted to conduct similar duties as others. And he did not want to have privileges. But he was aware of his responsibility and that created a aloofness for him.

If the mission started for monetary and social reasons, it turned out to be a rescue mission. Invincibility was Shackelton’s main purpose while trying to rescue the mission from the icy hell.

This is not a book about leadership. It’s a story about life and death.

What are the key learnings of the book? 

Shackelton’s book has been hailed, because of his leadership skills. I not denying that those elements are there, but to me this book is also about endurance. Nearly every page addresses endurance. And maybe every tenth page addresses leadership.

Key learnings can be categorized into five findings and a strategy:

Responsibility

• Responsibility is a pervasive act.
• A true leader takes everything account. 

Smells like team spirit.

• It’s crucial to understand different personalities and how they operate within a community.
• Keeping the spirit up is a skill that a leader should acquire.

Less privileges, more leadership.

• Leading the change or people or a company is an act, not a project.          

Endurance

• How a team of people will survive in harsh conditions and what is the the formula.
• They all had assigned duties for every day and there was organized mangement & leadership. That kept them going.
• Just like in Viktor Frankl’s story about his survival from the Auschwitz.

How should we change according to the book?

Maybe we should learn how Shackelton sacrified himself to rescue his men. Not because they could not have handled it, but because Shackelton was the leader and that way responsible of the expedition. And especially responsible for the lives of his crew. 

What should I personally do? 

Learn or understand how different personalities operate within a community.

Summary

The book in six words: Hope is the fuel for the bravery.