Recruiting Bootcamp Tip #4 - BUILD TENACITY

Sir Ernest Shackleton was an Irish-born, British explorer who led three expeditions to the Antarctic in the early 1900s. Born in 1874, he became enamored with exploration at an early age and joined the Royal Navy at 16. By the time he was 27, Shackleton had signed on to the “National Antarctic Expedition,” trying to be the first to reach the south pole. The expedition failed but made it farther south than any before. Then, again in 1908, this time in command of his own expedition, Shackleton tried for the pole, only to come up short. While back in Britain working to raise capital for a third trip, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached the pole, crushing Shackleton’s dream.

But that never stopped Shackleton. He had grit. He was tenacious. And because of that, he went down in history as one of the greatest explorers and leaders in modern history. 

Shackleton pivoted and soon came up with another plan – he would be the first person to lead an expedition across the Antarctic continent. On the 27th of September 1914, Shackleton set sail with a crew of 28 on his ship, Endurance. What followed was one of the most incredible stories of survival and of brave leadership in all of history. I won’t spoil it for you here, but if you’re interested in learning more, there are hundreds of books, documentaries, and even a full-scale Hollywood film starring Kenneth Branagh.

In Shackleton’s saga, we find spectacular examples of tenacity, creativity, optimism, and leadership that we can apply today. In an excellent book called Leading at the Edge, by Dennis Perkins, the author pulls out ten key leadership traits Shackleton exhibited that even us who are warm, cozy and safe at harbor, could use and apply every single day. Here they are.

1. Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on the short-term objectives.

2. Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behaviors.

3. Instill optimism and confidence but stay grounded in reality.

4. Take care of yourself: Maintain your stamina and let go of guilt.

5. Reinforce the team message constantly: “We are one. We live or die together.”

6. Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.

7. Master conflict – deal with anger in small doses, engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggles.

8. Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about.

9. Be willing to take the Big Risk.

10. Never give up – there’s always another move.

For me, the most impactful strategy Shackleton masterfully exemplified was his ability to never lose sight of the big goal, but to always focus on the immediate goals. He knew that, to reach his ultimate goals, he needed to tenaciously live out the maxim, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” (literally and figuratively).

As recruiters, we should be able to look up from our desk and continually visualize the “ultimate goal” – making a positive difference for our clients, hiring managers, and candidates. But we also need to keep ourselves grounded in the small, day to day tasks that move us forward towards our big goal. It’s the little steps and the little things that, if tenaciously done properly and consistently, will move a company forward and build a recruiter’s reputation of an invaluable partner to a business or a candidate.