List Books » Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition
Authors: Dennis N. T. Perkins, Margaret P. Holtman (With), Catherine McCarthy
ISBN-13: 9780814405437, ISBN-10: 0814405436
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: AMACOM
Date Published: May 2000
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Dennis N. T. Perkins, Ph.D. (Branford, CT) is president of the Syncretics Group, a consultancy that specializes in effective leadership. Margaret P. Holtman is director of employee development at Hartford Life, Inc. Paul R. Kessler is a managing consultant at Stromberg Consulting. Catherine McCarthy, Ph.D., is a principal of the consulting firm Kaye & McCarthy.
Part adventure story, part leadership guide, this intriguing book examines Shackleton's legendary Antarctic expedition through the lens of business to reveal a set of powerful strategies for corporate leaders.
In the chronicles of extraordinary adventures and against-the-odds survival, nothing compares to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team of South Pole explorers. Stranded in the frozen sea for nearly two years, they endured extreme temperatures, hazardous ice, dwindling food, complete isolation, and perpetual blackness.
Yet, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the group remained cohesive, congenial, and mercifully alive a fact that speaks not just to luck but to an unparalleled feat in leadership.
Now, for the first time ever, Leading at the Edge draws on this amazing story to reveal the power of effective organizational leadership under conditions of uncertainty, ambiguity, and rapid change. The book uncovers 10 lessons complete with stirring examples from the Shackleton expedition, as well as contemporary business case studies of the strategies in action on what it takes to be a great leader. Readers learn how to:
About the Author:
Dennis N. T. Perkins, Ph.D. (Branford, CT) is president of the Syncretics Group, a consultancy that specializes in effective leadership. Margaret P. Holtman is director of employee development at Hartford Life, Inc. Paul R. Kessler is a managing consultant at Stromberg Consulting. Catherine McCarthy, Ph.D., is a principal of the consulting firm Kaye & McCarthy.
In Leading at the Edge, consultant Dennis Perkins masterfully weaves the story of Shackleton's journey - with all of the drama and intensity intact - into 10 strategies for 'leading at the edge.'.Perkins expertly combines leadership examples from the expedition with well-known corporate problems, and subsequent solutions, to define a model of superior personal and business leadership.
Acknowledgements | ix | |
Preface | xiii | |
The Shackleton Saga | 1 | |
Part 1 | Ten Strategies for Leading at The Edge | |
1 | Vision and Quick Victories: Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short-term objectives | 15 |
2 | Symbolism and Personal Example: Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behaviors | 29 |
3 | Optimism and Reality: Instill optimism and self-confidence, but stay grounded in reality | 40 |
4 | Stamina: Take care of yourself: Maintain your stamina and let go of guilt | 56 |
5 | The Team Message: Reinforce the team message constantly: "We are one--we live or die together." | 70 |
6 | Core Team Values: Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect | 86 |
7 | Conflict: Master conflict--deal with anger in small doses, engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggles | 98 |
8 | Lighten Up! Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about | 113 |
9 | Risk: Be willing to take the Big Risk | 125 |
10 | Tenacious Creativity: Never give up--there's always another move | 139 |
Part 2 | Case Studies in Leading at The Edge | |
01 | Introduction to the Case Studies | 153 |
12 | Business Communication Systems (AT&T/ Lucent Technologies): Back to the Future | 157 |
13 | Rice Health Systems: Healing a Sick Organization | 170 |
14 | Weyerhaeuser Company: Transforming a Culture | 185 |
15 | Malden Mills: Rising from the Ashes | 198 |
Part 3 | Continuing Your Expedition | |
16 | Learning to Lead at The Edge | 215 |
17 | Epilogue: A Perspective on Success and Failure | 227 |
Part 4 | Resources for Leading at The Edge | |
Resources | 233 | |
Critical Leadership Skills Survey | 234 | |
Your Leadership Expedition: A Personal Development Plan | 241 | |
Your Leadership Expedition Map | 245 | |
Further Readings from The Edge | 247 | |
Notes | 251 | |
Index | 261 |