Leadership in Crisis: Earnest Shackleton and the Epic Voyage of the Endurance

Leadership in Crisis: Earnest Shackleton and the Epic Voyage of the Endurance

The main issue of this case is about the ability of a leader to hold his crew together and keeping their morale even through the toughest and seemingly hopeless circumstances beside the ability to be brave and make the right decisions in lights of the newly emerging conditions. Shackleton was a true responsible leader who was always capable of hiding his worries and fears and always kept optimistic and assuring his men. He could gain the trust, respect and confidence of his crew. He managed to share with them many humanly matters and at the same time was able to a keep a suitable distance of authority needed for maintaining discipline. Shackleton cared about his crew and he always kept their welfare before his.

I think Shackleton should have listened to the local seamen at South Georgia and postponed his trip may be to the following year since conditions were different as the floes appeared more north that year than ever, even it was in the middle of the summer.

A take away from this case

leadership must depend on deep sense of responsibility, ethics and persistence. it is the result of life experiences together with some inborn characters within the individual. A good leader must demonstrate many characters among which are: Solid and strong emotional stability, hardship tolerance, the ability to assess and deeply understand others regarding how they feel and what they think or expect and he should be able to know the assets and potentials of people whom he leads in order to assign to them the most suitable missions where he can benefit from their abilities. Also a leader must be optimistic and resourceful all the time.