Over 100 people came to the Marion Music Hall on Thursday evening, July 26 to hear Margot Morrell, author of Shackleton’s Way, retell the story of the legendary Antarctic explorer and explain how today’s business leaders can learn from his leadership style.
A short video and a slide presentation told the story of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 – 1916 expedition on the ship Endurance, which was crushed between two ice flows, stranding the 28 men for almost two years.
“There was no contact with the outside world and it was like being on the moon,” said Morrell, a New York Times best-selling author. She read from diary entries written by both Shackleton and crew members which showed the many facets of his personality.
“He was described as a Viking with a mother’s heart,” said Morrow. “He constantly worked at keeping morale up in creative ways.”
The men lived in tents and ate penguins and seals along with rations from the ship. To lift spirits, Shackleton would have the men write short notes and deliver them to each crewmember on their birthday, like getting cards in the mail. Dog sled races were held and other physical activities were offered to keep the men fit and busy.
A sing-along was often held at night and a banquet, of sorts, was held on the shortest day of the year. The men also built a large snow maiden.
“She was well endowed by nature,” joked Morrow. “It was these small morale boosters and constant application of small corrections, unnoticed by nearly everyone, yet very potent in their cumulative effect.”
Morrow’s point was that the saying ‘leaders are born and not made’ is untrue. Shackleton was an unlikely leader until circumstances thrust him into a life or death situation in one of the harshest environments on the planet.
Shackleton was a master at reading personality types and mixed and matched crew members so they could work together more effectively. He took the three most difficult personalities and lived with them in his own tent. He focused on each person’s strengths and complimented them often and didn’t get bogged down by their weaknesses.
Shackleton was a researcher and prior to leaving on the voyage he read up on and purchased the latest in navigation, nutrition, camera equipment, and top quality instruments and products.
Morrow said she stumbled onto a book on Shackleton back in the 1980s when she was dating a sailor and they were browsing in a bookstore.
“It was total serendipity … one of those life changing moments that happen on the spur of the moment,” she said.
Morrow concluded with a favorite quote by Shackleton. “Optimism is true moral courage.”
By Joan Hartnett-Barry