Leading by Example- A Key Attribute of Business Leaders

Note: This is a crossposted piece of content for blurt.world that I created on 9/21/20. I own and have created this content, see details below.

Leaders must lead by example. The difference between a manager and a leader is one of assumed responsibility and williness to produce results despite one's offical position.

Ernest Henry Shackleton was an Arctic explorer who left in 1914 with a crew of 27 men. Over the course of their journey in the Arctic, their vessel, the Endurance, became trapped in the ice and was crushed. Shackleton and his crew were faced with a jounrey through the frozen Arctic, and Shackleton assumed a leadership role higher and more serious than what he was assigned to as a ship's captain.

A leader makes a plan and works with agility.

Shackleton and his crew needed to adapt to their stark environment. Agility is key, and Shackleton made a plan and needed to work towards it. The plan required course corrections along the way as obstacles presented themselves. He had to focus on a goal and avoid the traps along the way.

A leader only asks his crew to do what he can.

A leader leads from the front lines. Shackleton completed physically demanding tasks on the journey to safety, and carried his weight.

A leader surrounds himself with subject matter experts.

A leader understands that he must surround himself with subject matter experts who are genuinely more intelligent than they are. This is a sign of maturity, as those with inflated egos may avoid teaming with those who are more capable than they are. Leading a capable team to victory is more important than personal gain, and giving credit where credit is due is important.

A leader embodies endurance, integrity and ingenuity.

A leader must be honesty, act with integrity and must be willing to endure through hard times. Leading in easy times is fun and energizing, and leading in hard times can be draining and may feel impossible. A leader like Shackleton must be honest, strong and wise even in an Arctic storm.

A leader reaches out to other leaders.

Leaders must collaborate. Cross-functional teams and department collaboration are key to leadership endeavors.

In the end, Shackleton and his crew survived their ordeal, and made a long and dangerous treck through the ice. Not one man died during the trip, despite severe weather conditions and a lack of food and water. Shackleton was an effective leader who walked the walk and was agile during a time of strife, and is a great example of a leader.

I highly recommend reading Alfred Lansing's book Endurance. Check it out at the link below:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139069.Endurance

Originally published in my blurt account at the link below:
https://blurt.blog/blurtlife/@anarchy999/leading-by-example-a-key-attribute-of-business-leaders

Also published in my Steemit account at myblurtrides1 and my Whaleshares account.

Sources:

Picture from Pixabay.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Shackleton

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endurance_(1912_ship)