Why is shackleton important

He was an inspiration who instilled a belief that the marooned men would survive and get home. It was a simple message that Shackleton frequently reinforced to ensure the men never lost sight of the goal — safety and survival. Although a handful of the castaways were hardened polar types with experience on the ice, most of the men were novices and totally ill-prepared for the ordeal. Many were ordinary seamen employed to bring Endurance to the Antarctic coast or young scientists on field-trips.

One was an artist and another had stowed away. To avoid any troublesome build-up of cliques or running conflicts, he insisted the men did not spend longer than a week sharing a tent with the same man. Shackleton instinctively understood the importance of teamwork and threw a protective cloak around his men.

All were treated equally and he took particular care of anyone struggling to cope. He made each person feel as though they were as important as the next and there were no favourites. Scientists shared the same chores with sailors and sailors helped take scientific readings. When the winter clothing was distributed, Shackleton ensured the crew were supplied before the officers and during one horrendous boat journey he gave his mittens to a desperate colleague. Courageous leaders understand this; they access their emotional awareness and discipline to recognise their feelings.

For example, Shackleton used his diary to express many of his negative emotions. He also confided in Frank Wild, his trusted second-in-command. So, he often pulled out the pages from the encyclopedia he had salvaged before the ship sank to initiate conversation among the men. When assigning chores, he eliminated rank and other distinctions: scientists and officers washed floors alongside sailors.

Some men grumbled about this, but even they admitted that sharing the workload minimised jealousies among the group. Strong morale and group unity beget other important benefits: less fear, better focus, more creativity, and dedication, all of which are more likely to result in positive outcomes navigating the crisis. Most present-day leaders have a few people who exercise negative influence. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

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In , Shackleton was chosen to go on the Antarctic expedition led by British naval officer Robert Falcon Scott on the ship 'Discovery'. With Scott and one other, Shackleton trekked towards the South Pole in extremely difficult conditions, getting closer to the Pole than anyone had come before. Shackleton became seriously ill and had to return home but had gained valuable experience.