‘Leadership Lessons From The Great Antarctic Explorer’

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Be bold in vision and careful in planning. Dare to try something new, but be meticulous enough in your proposal to give your ideas a good chance of succeeding.’

In a rapidly changing world, be willing to venture in new directions to seize new opportunities and learn new skills.’

Once you make a career decision, commit to stick through the tough learning period.’

Hire those who share your vision. Someone who clashes with your personality or the corporate culture will hinder your work.’

‘Motivate your staff to be independent. If you have been a good leader, they will have the determination to succeed on their own.’

Hire those with talents and expertise you lack. Don’t feel threatened by them. They will help you stay on the cutting edge and bring distinction to your organization.’

Take the time to observe before acting, especially if you are new to the scene. All changes should be aimed at improvements. Don’t make changes just for the sake of leaving your mark.’

Where possible, have employees work together on certain tasks. It builds trust and respect and even friendship.’

Create a work environment comfortable enough to entice professionals to spend the greater part of their waking hours there. Allow for some personal preferences.’

Give consistent feedback on performance. Most workers feel they don’t get nearly enough words of praise and encouragement.’

‘Get rid of unnecessary middle layers of authority. Direct leadership is more efficient in emergency situations.’

Source

Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell (2001). Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from The Great Antarctic Explorer

Why Great Leaders Are Different

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Why are great leaders great? Why are they different? Because they are in it for others, not for themselves.

Because they do things differently. So if you want to be different, then you must do your own thing differently.

In his book 1% Leadership: Master the Small, Daily Improvements that Set Great Leaders Apart, Andy Ellis writes, ‘Leadership is helping someone become a better version of themselves.’

‘Find your blind spots by hearing unbelievable things.’

‘Make the smallest and most defensible argument necessary to spur action.’

‘Don’t be irreplaceable; be unclonable.’

‘Create safety to let people warn you of danger.’

‘Keep your hand on the wheel to stay in your lane.’

‘If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss the gorilla in the room.’

‘Act faster than your adversaries and slower than your allies.’

‘Serenity is knowing that the crap you’re wading through is crap you chose to deal with.’

‘The best available outcomes often involve finding hard compromises between groups you advocate for.’

Source:

Andy Ellis (2023). 1% Leadership: Master the Small, Daily Improvements that Set Great Leaders Apart