Have you read South? The story of Shackleton’s survival in the Antarctic? Is this not one of the world’s greatest stories?
I’m halfway through it. Shackleton and five of his men have just left Elephant Island in the James Caird to row across the raging Antarctic Ocean. Their goal is to make it to South Georgia Island and there find assistance for the 22 men huddled under boats on Elephant Island. They have only enough food for a month. For if they don’t make it within a month, they will have perished. And they have even less water.
Most will know how the story ends. Yet how was it possible? How was it possible this man shepherded to safety every single member of the expedition? In the face of profound and unrelenting adversity over a period of almost three years. How can one man have possessed enough courage and endurance for himself and 28 others?
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Most discussions of Shackleton start, and end, with the concept of leadership. What is leadership? Are there different types of leadership? What was it about Shackleton that made his leadership so extraordinary?
Until recently, if I ever thought of leadership at all, I thought of it in very simple or functional terms. A person who’s a leader is one who does things first, who makes decisions on behalf of others, and who directs others. However, I’ve been doing a course lately which suggests there are at least several other ways of conceiving of leadership.
That a leader is one who brings forth leadership in others.
That a leader is one who, paradoxically, is of service to others.
That a leader is one who persists in the face of adversity.
What do you think? How do you conceive of leadership? What makes a person a leader?
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Image: Shackleton setting off from Elephant Island in the James Caird.
Like beauty, a great leader is difficult to define, but you know one when you see one.
Yes, isn’t it fantastic that we can’t actually define it?
This is spooky. Have you infiltrated my hard drive? Do you know my deepest secrets?
I say that because Shackleton is a major character in my book. I haven’t read South but I read Lansing’s Endurance and Huntford’s “Shackleton”.
Unfortunately and ironically, that means I am no longer to say anything at all about Shackleton in fewer than 9,000 words. But if you offer your reactions, I will pounce.
He he, yes, I know all your deepest secrets ;) Actually, I thought of you and your book at 1:30am this morning (each night I can’t put the book down) when I read the following passage about their approach to South Georgia Island:
“The chance of surviving the night, with the driving gale and the implacable sea forcing us on to the lee shore, seemed small. I think most of us had a feeling that the end was very near. Just after 6pm, in the dark, as the boat was in the yeasty backwash from the seas … just when things looked their worst, they changed for the best. I have marveled often at the thin line that divides success from failure and the sudden turn that leads from apparently certain disaster to comparative safety. The wind suddenly shifted, and we were free once more to make an offing.”
How delectable. 9,000 juicy words about the great man. More than ever, am looking forward to reading your book. Will write more about him and his journey. Just got to get him over the mountain first …
My god, it’s a mind meld.
Do blog more about him. I can’t wait to see your take on it all.
Also, pay attention to what happens in the next few years AFTER this stunning success. It’s not photogenic, but it happens to a lot of great people after their moment of glory.
Andreas, I was crying in a cafe this morning over it. Shackleton, Worsley and Crean have just heard the steam whistle from the whaling station and know they are about to be safe:
“Never had any one of us heard sweeter music … That whistle told us that men were living near, that ships were ready, and that within a few hours we should be on our way back to Elephant Island to the rescue of the men waiting there … It was a moment hard to describe. Pain and ache, boat journeys, marches, hunger and fatigue seemed to belong to the limbo of forgotten things, and there remained only the perfect contentment that comes of work accomplished.”
Great moment. And then a little boy sees them, black and oily and looking beastly, and he runs away scared. Not having looked in a mirror for two years, they realize what state they’re in. Fortunately, the find the Norwegian whaler who recognizes Shackleton and immediately realizes they are heroes.
But now… they must rescue the men left on the other side of South Georgia, and then the party marooned on Elephant Island.
Do you know i love your blog. I check your blog once in 2 days to read the next new post. I especially liked this one. I have been wanting to expand my reading and your blog offers me that! This is going to be my next book!
Thanks, darling friend. How wonderful if you read the book too. We’ll be able to discuss it over lunch. BTW, registered in the run xx
yay!! are you coming tomorrow for the practice run?