Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Bestselling Author of the Award- Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies " (Nicholas Brealey)

The discovery this month of the Endurance—Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton's ship that sank almost two miles beneath the ice more than 100 years ago—reminds us of Shackleton's leadership lessons that resonant with and are still relevant for today's business executives.

As recounted by the New York Times, Shackleton "never made it to the pole or beyond, but his leadership in rescuing all his crew and his exploits, which included an 800-mile open-boat journey across the treacherous Southern Ocean to the island of South Georgia, made him a hero in Britain."

Michael Smith is an authority on the history of polar exploration. He recalled on a website about Shackleton that his "skills as a leader were best demonstrated during the Endurance expedition when his management was crucial in saving the lives of the 28-strong party after the ship was crushed by ice.

"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," he said.

Assume Responsibility

In a New York Times essay, Harvard Business School professor and historian Nancy Koehn observed that, "Shackleton assumed ultimate responsibility for his team. Perhaps he recognized that he was partly to blame for the crisis that befell the Endurance. Perhaps his naval training instilled in him a deep sense of loyalty and obligation to his fellow crew members. The men themselves understood this, and most, in turn, offered him their commitment.

"Shackleton's sense of responsibility and commitment came with a great suppleness of means. To get his men home safely, he led them across ice, sea and land with all the tools he could muster. This combination—a credible commitment to a larger purpose and flexible, imaginative methods to achieve a goal—is increasingly important in our tumultuous times," she said.

Provide Encouragement

David Reid, sales director for VEM Tooling, said that "Constant tumult seems to be a new reality, and strong leadership is key to management. The toughest aspect of leadership is providing ideas and encouragement to the team and self. Shackleton rose above significant challenges to reach his goal.

"When his mission ran into serious problems, he had to reassess the team's objectives. This trait is especially important in our age when leaders must frequently alter the direction in the middle of a project, discarding previous benchmarks of success and redefining their goals and strategies," he commented.

Defy Challenges

Entrepreneur and travel blogger Jenny Ly pointed out that, "Shackleton managed to defy the physical and mental challenges that he and his team faced. His ability to push through and guide the souls responsible under his doomed expedition, his unshakable faith in his abilities managed to keep confidence high and the fear away.

"In this time of crisis and whatever we face ahead, having a leader like Shackleton can be the difference between sinking with the ship or surviving against all odds," she concluded.

Lead In Trying Times

Jawad Nayyar is the co-founder and chief vision officer of DAO PropTech. He said that "Shackleton, like most disruptors, bootstrapped his way through Antarctica and chose courageous actions in the midst of a crisis, highlighting the skills all leaders need to guide themselves and others through challenging times.

"He faced an inhospitable landscape, limited resources, a shifting landscape, and limited visibility. Yet he chose to stay the course, adjust to paths that made the most sense for his final goal and made the tumultuous journey to save the lives of all his crew. He [is] remembered today for saving lives in the face of impossible odds, despite his failed expeditions."

Michael Miller, CEO of VPN Online Multimedia, thought that one of the key leadership lessons business leaders can learn from Shackleton "is to never ask your people anything you wouldn't do yourself. As the leader, you need to be willing to put in the same effort as everyone else on the team and lead by example."

"Shackleton was known for his self-sacrifice and dedication to his crew. He never gave up, even when things were at their worst. And his philosophy was that if he could keep going, so could they. This attitude helped him inspire his team and kept them going through thick and thin."

Have The Right Priorities

Matthew Paxton, founder and owner of gaming company Hyperni said that "Simply put, he knew his men's talents and shortcomings, as well as what drove them.

"He also possessed an unusual ability to detect danger and always minimized risk. Perhaps his most admirable trait was that he prioritized the welfare of his men above all else," he commented.

Turn Lemons Into Lemonade

"Great leaders always know how to turn lemons into lemonade," according to Josh Pelletier, the chief marketing officer of Bar Bend. "When faced with unbelievably difficult challenges, they find a way to rise to the occasion and get the job done.

"Ernest Shackleton was one of the greatest explorers of all time, and he provides us with plenty of leadership lessons that we can apply in our own lives."

Maintain A Positive Attitude

Pelletier said that "One of the most important leadership lessons that business leaders can learn from Shackleton is the importance of having a positive attitude in times of adversity.

"When his ship was crushed by pack ice, and his crew was stranded in the middle of nowhere, he refused to give up. He kept everyone's spirits high by telling them jokes and stories and making sure they never lost sight of their ultimate goal."

Be Optimistic

Moshe Cohen is a senior lecturer at Boston University's Questrom School of Business where he teaches Shackelton's story. He said that "Throughout the many months on the ice, Shackleton never showed disappointment, despite being denied his goal of crossing Antarctica and facing terrible odds.

"Optimism is a choice and a lifestyle, and Shackleton was the quintessential optimism. Optimism doesn't mean pretending that everything's okay when it's not, but instead examining the terrible reality of the situation and believing that you might still win against all odds.

"Shackleton's optimistic resilience and calm manner built trust and loyalty with his team. They followed his lead and remained hopeful for survival, even when things looked very grim. They executed his plans and worked collaboratively to survive. To them, he was 'The Boss.' Leaders need to remember that their teams are looking to them not just for vision but also as role models and that their demeanor impacts their organizations," Cohen counseled.

Plan And Delegate

Dmitriy Bobriakov is the founder and CEO of the media company SEO Analytics Pro. He said that "Shackleton was an expert in planning, and he always made sure that his team was well prepared for whatever challenges they might face.

"He also believed in delegation and letting his team members take on responsibilities according to their skillsets. This allowed him to focus on the big picture and keep everyone moving forward towards their goals."

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