Leading at the Edge ─ Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition

Stranded in the frozen Antarctic sea for nearly two years, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team of 27 polar explorers endured extreme temperatures, hazardous ice, dwindling food, and complete isolation. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the group remained cohesive, congenial, and mercifully alive—a fact that speaks not just to luck but to an unparalleled feat of leadership.

Drawing on this amazing story, Leading at The Edge demonstrates the importance of a strong leader in times of adversity, uncertainty, and change. The book reveals 10 timeless leadership lessons that show readers how to:
• Instill optimism while staying grounded in reality
• Have the courage to step up to risks worth taking
• Consistently reinforce the team message
• Set a personal example
• Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about
• Never give up

Part adventure tale, part leadership guide, the second edition features additional lessons, new case studies of the strategies in action, tools to uncover and resolve conflicts, and expanded resources. An updated epilogue compares the leadership styles of the famous polar explorers Shackleton, Amundsen, and Scott.

Today’s leaders have much to learn from this gripping account of survival against all odds. Leading at The Edge will help them bring order to chaos—and achieve success in the face of adversity.

DENNIS N.T. PERKINS, PH.D. is the chief executive officer of The Syncretics Group, a consulting firm dedicated to effective leadership in demanding environments.MARGARET P. HOLTMAN is founder of Margaret Holtman, LLC, which specializes in leadership solutions for individuals, teams, and organizations. PAUL R. KESSLER is a consultant and coach with over 15 years of experience. CATHERINE MCCARTHY, PH.D., is a consultant for Korn/Ferry International.