When it comes to our modern day leaders-- from President Barack Obama, to Hillary Clinton, and even New Jersey Governor Christie-- we'll have to wait for history to judge their failures and successes. That's why Harvard Business historian and Boston Public Radio regular Nancy Koehn is taking us back to the 2th century. Today on Open Mic she asks 'what can we learn about leadership from the 1911 race for the South Pole?'
Though both adventurers shared a common goal, this is a story about two very different leaders with two very different outcomes. Roald Amundsen succeeded in claiming the South Pole and racing his crew back to base camp ahead of schedule. Robert Falcon Scott and his four companions arrived at the South Pole one month after Amundsen had marked it with the Norwegian Flag. Scott and his men all died on the way back. The surviving three were a mere ten miles from a food and fuel depot when they perished.
Each outcome was a result of individual leadership.
Each has key lessons.
You owe it to yourself to hear Nancy Koehn analyze how and why Amundsen ultimately succeeded.