Leadership Lessons How to Succeed When You Are Doomed To Fail – Shackleton Saga By Chriss J Koshy

1.      On Aug 03rd 1913, Canadian expedition led by Vihjalmur Steafansson set out to explore the frozen Arctic, between the Northernmost shores of Canada and the North Pole. On Dec 5th 1914, The British Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, sailed from the Island of South Georgia in the Southern Ocean. Its goal was the first overland crossing of Antarctica.

2.      Both ships, the Karluk in the North and the Endurance in the South, soon found themselves beset in solid pack ice. Trapped by the ice, each crew was soon engaged in a fight for survival. But the outcomes of these adventures and the ways in which two leaders dealt with the obstacles they faced were as far apart as the poles each leader set out to explore.

3.      In the North, the crew of Karluk found themselves transformed in the months that followed into a band of self interested, disparate individuals. Lying, cheating and stealing became common behaviours. The disintegration of the teams had tragic consequences for its eleven members who died in the Arctic wasteland.

4.      In the frozen, South, the story of the Endurance could not have been more different. Shackleton’s expedition faced the same problems of ice, cold and shortage of food and supplies. The response of his crew to these of the Karluk’s crew. Team work, self sacrifice, and astonishing good cheer replaced lying, cheating and rapacious self interest. It was as if the Endurance existed not just in a different polar region, but in a different, contrary, parallel Universe.

5.      I believe, however that these two cases reflect something far different from a simple twist of fate. This lessons to be learnt from these expeditions brings out the systematic differences between those that succeed and those that fail.

The Shackleton Saga

6.      In 1914, Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance with his team of seamen and scientists, intent upon crossing the unexplored continent. The adventure began with an advertisement.

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

Who in the world would volunteer for this journey? Shackleton’s Mission was the first overland crossing of the Antarctic Continent. He had a clear vision and plan for how to achieve it. Shackleton intended to sail from London to Buenos Aires and then to island of South Georgia. From South Georgia, the expedition would enter the Weddell Sea, cross Antarctic and exit on the other sided where a ship would be waiting. Having calculated the time and distance, Shackleton believed the Trans-Continental journey would be completed in 120 days.

Trapped in the Ice

7.      Forty Five days after their departure from South Georgia disaster struck. The ice of Weddell Sea closed around the Endurance. The expedition was stuck, sixty miles from the Antarctic Continent. Working with saws and the other hand tool, the expedition made two attempts to break free, but they were still hopelessly stuck. As the days wore on, Endurance became caked with snow and ice. In these extreme conditions members of the expedition became closer than ever. How did this happen? I believe the answer lies in the Shackleton’s understanding of the absolute importance of managing the dynamics of his crew. As the ice moved relentlessly against the hull, both the timbers of Endurance and the crew’s sense of security began to crack. Day 327 of the expedition, Oct 27th 1915, the mast toppled and the sides were caved in as shards of ice ripped the strong timbers to shreds. The nearest food depot was on Paulet Island and the crew was only left with life boats and sledges. Shackleton proposes to head towards open water by undertaking a march across hundreds of miles of solid pack ice. This trek of some 312 miles was an unbelievably ambitious undertaking. The task was grueling, and the after two days of hauling, the team had covered less than two miles. Realizing that it was futile to go on, the men found a large floe more than half a mile in diameter and agreed to stay until the drift of ice carried them closer to Paulet Island.

Escape from the Ice

8.      On day 384 of the expedition, they were still a long way from the sea, they once more attempted to drag the boats across the ice to open water. The unsuccessful sledge march resulted in what was called as one man mutiny. Shackleton’s resolve and leadership defused the mutiny and enabled the expedition to move forward. Exhausted and discouraged because the ice was still impassable, the expedition crew members again made camp and waited. The men knew they had to get off the ice, but had no sense of controlling their fate. As their food supply dwindled, they stayed alive on diet of seal steaks, stewed penguin and their favorite penguin liver. By the beginning of April, the floe had shrunk from half a mile to 200 yard wide. With the floe literally cracking out from under them the men wanted to launch the boats. Abandoning the floe prematurely might mean disaster. The unstable ice could close, crushing the boats and their hope of survival.

9.      On Apr 9th, (Day 491) the ice pack opened and the boats were launched. The men tumbled into the three life boats, put out every available oar and pulled with all their strength for open water. The temperature was so cold that when the waves broke over the boats, the water froze to the rowers’ clothes in an instant. As the winds and currents changed the group was forced to change its destination four times during the five and half day voyage. Finally, they found respite on a rocky, barren speck of land known as Elephant Island. For the first time in 497 days they were on solid ground. Elated, but on the verge of collapse, the men ate their first hot penguins, some seagulls, selfish and some elephant seals. The decision to stay and wait for rescue or to sail for help weighed heavily on Shackleton.

10.     Shackleton decided that part of the crew would sail for help because the region’s gale force winds blew west to east, he elected to make the 800 mile run to South Georgia. Sailing through the most treacherous stretch of water on a planet, with winds of hurricane intensity and enormous waves. Shackleton chose the one lifeboat that was the most sea worthy, and attempted to create a vessel that would survive the voyage. The trouble maker carpenter who caused the one day mutiny rose to the occasion and provided ingenious solution for decking and outfitting the life boat for his risky journey.

11.     Shackleton selected five members of the expedition to sail with him. After a farewell breakfast all hands mustered to launch the life boats on day 506. The next 16 days were even more harrowing than the journey to Elephant Island. Each watch, one of the man was forced to risk his life to chip away ice that was constantly forming on the deck and lines. On May 10th 1916, exhausted sailors sighted South Georgia. Shackleton and his companions were standing on the island they had left 522 days earlier.

Across the Glacier – The Rescue

12.     A safe landing was the good news. The bad news was that they were on the wrong side of South Georgia, and island abounding with unchartered and treacherous glaciers. Shackleton and the two best able to travel proceeded overland to reach whaling station of Grytviken at Stormness Bay. It look the men three days and nights each filled with danger and enormous physical challenge to reach the station.

13.     The men left behind on the far side of South Georgia were soon rescued. Back at Elephant Island, however conditions were desperate. Frank Wild, who Shackleton had left in charge, worked desperately to keep up the crew’s spirits. After four months of waiting the men were wondering if they would ever be found.

14.     Shackleton struggled to get help for the rest of his crew, making three attempts in three different ships, Finally, at the end of August – 128 days after the launching of the life boats he succeeded on the fourth attempt. The timing was providential: the pack ice opened for only a few hours, just enough time to get a boat ashore and to complete the rescue. The saga of Earnest Shackleton and the men of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition ended, 634 days after their departure from South Georgia.

15.     I am convinced that the safe return of Shackleton’s expedition can be attributed to much more than luck. Following leadership lessons can be drawn from this Antarctic Expedition:-

(a)     Never Lose Sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short term objectives.

(b)     Set a personal example if visible, memorable symbols and behaviours.

(c)    Instill optimism and self-confidence but stay grounded in reality.

(d)     Take care of yourself: Maintain your stamina and let go of guilt.

(e)     Reinforce the team message constantly: ‘We are one – we live or die together’.

(f)      Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.

(g)     Master conflict – deal with anger in small doses, engaged dissidents and avoid needless power struggles.

(h)     Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about.

(j)      Be willing to take the big risk.

(k)     Never give up - there’s always another move.

Conclusion

16.     Every time I relive this story, I want to give these explorers a round of applause. I want to applaud them, not just because they made it to safety, but because of the extraordinary leadership and teamwork they exhibited. Leaders who take their organisation to The Edge must channel energy towards two equally important goals. First, they must continually be aware of their ultimate destination-their long term, strategic objective. This ultimate goal however may be distant and uncertain. Secondly, whilst pursuing this long term target, leaders must also be vigilant and focus on the scarce resources of the organization on critical short term task that create momentum and ensure survival.

17.     Earnest Shackleton demonstrated an almost uncanny mastery of these essential, but very different, leadership skills. Shackleton was tireless in finding ways to capture the free-floating anxiety that permeated their situation. In spite of the dangers, Shackleton understood the need to try. He was a leader to thrive on activity. Shackleton’s ability to create structure and orders was effective even when there was little to do but wait. His attention to detail, fiery enthusiasm, and perseverance in the face of all odds is a lesson for all men and women of all race and creed.

About the Author:

Cdr Chriss J Koshy is a decorated Naval Officer with extensive leadership lessons learnt over the last 20 years of which 13 years have been spend at sea under various challenging roles. The views expressed are personal.