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Each year, thousands of people choose to spend their vacations camping in the tent in the great outdoors. With proper planning the experience can be gratifying. Even with the best planning, however, tent camping can be an extremely frustrating experience due to uncontrolled factors such as bad weather, wildlife encounters, and equipment failures. Nothing can dampen the excited anticipation of camping more than a dark, rainy day. After reaching their destination, campers must then "set up camp" in the downpour. This includes keeping the inside of the tent dry and free from mud, getting the sleeping bags situated properly, and protecting food from the downpour. Wind mixed with rain can result in frigid temperatures, causing any outside activities to be delayed. Often, tents are blown down by the wind, and campers have to begin the frustrating task of "setting up camp" in the downpour. Another problem likely to be faced during a camping trip is run-ins with wildlife, which can range from mildly annoying to dangerous. Minor inconveniences include mosquitoes and ants. The swarming of mosquitoes can literally drive annoyed campers indoors. Ants do not usually attack campers, but keeping them out of the food can be quite an inconvenience. In addition to swarming the food, ants inside a tent can crawl into sleeping bags and clothing. Although these insects cause minor discomfort, some wildlife encounters are potentially dangerous. There are many poisonous snakes in the woods. An encounter between an unwary camper and a surprised snake can prove to be fatal. Perhaps the least serious camping troubles are equipment failures; these troubles often plague people camping for the first time. They arrive at the campsite at night and haphazardly set up their tent. They then settle down for a peaceful night's rest. Sometime during the night the campers are awakened by a huge crash. The tent has fallen down. Sleepily, they proceed to set up the tent in the rain. In the morning, everyone emerges from the tent, except for two. Their sleeping bag zippers have gotten caught. Finally, after fifteen minutes of struggling, they free themselves, only to realize another problem. Their sleeping bags have been touching the sides of the tent. Since a tent is only waterproof if the sides are not touched, the sleeping bags and clothing are all drenched.
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What Makes an Exceptional Leader?
On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team made history as the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Thirty-five days later, on January 17, 1912, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole, with five exhausted men. None survived the brutal journey home. Another noted British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, never reached the South Pole. While failing to achieve the first overland crossing of Antarctica, Shackleton succeeded in bringing all 27 members of his expedition party safely home, after 634 days of unbelievable hardship. The polar adventures of Shackleton, Scott， and Amundsen provide fundamental leadership lessons for any leader-no matter what race must be run. Effective leadership requires a clear strategic focus. With single-minded determination, Amundsen set his plans and priorities on winning the race to the South Pole, for the glory of standing there first. Scott lacked such focus. He assembled the best scientific minds and equipment available for an unprecedented research expedition. But he also aimed to c1aim the "reward of priority" for the British Empire. Striving for both goa1s, Scott failed doubly. Successful leaders are open to new ideas. As a Norwegian, Amundsen began with an advantage over his British rivals: comfort with skiing. Yet, he continued to refine his skills, importing ideas from the Eskimos and developing an integrated set of competencies-skiing, dog-handling, clothing, and carefully-planned diet, pace, and rest-for polar travel. Scott and Shackleton, however, were surprisingly resistant to the use of novel methods. Ultimately, both relied on the slow, exhausting technique of man hauling. Leaders need to draw on the collective wisdom of the team. As a leader, Scott believed it was his unique responsibility to analyze situations and draw conclusions. His decisions were closely held and sometimes revealed at the last minute. In sharp contrast to Scott, both Amundsen and Shackleton sought ideas and opinions from their men. Through this process, Amundsen and Shackleton gave team members a sense of control and value, resulting in greater ownership and commitment. The best leaders forge strong bonds. Despite their differences in personality, the enthusiastic Shackleton and the understated Amundsen had strikingly similar approaches to leadership. Both were acutely sensitive to the emotions of their men and skilled at managing conflict. Both emphasized individual ability above rank or social status. And both participated in everyday expedition life, including simple chores. These behaviors, both practical and symbolic, reinforced the message of unity. Although Scott's doomed polar party stayed together until the very end, his detachment, emphasis on hierarchy, and one-sided decision-making style created barriers to team unity and damaged morale. Flaws aside, Shackleton, Amundsen, and Scott shared qualities-exceptional perseverance, determination, and courage-that are crucial for any leader. Leadership success is often relative and always personal. Amundsen led his team and landed on the South Pole successfully; Scott and his men reached the South Pole, but none of them survived the journey home; Shackleton failed in achieving his goal of crossing Antarctica, but he led his team to safety through extreme hardship. Was Shackleton a success or a failure as a leader? The answer depends on how you measure success. Topic Outline
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