Week Two: Chapter 1

There are two things I thought it's important for me to be a great leader from reading LEADING AT THE EDGE. So I'd like to write about it.

First, I learned leader must be both visionary and pay attention to detail from what Shackleton did. Sometimes, he showed big vision to team members so that they wouldn't lose the way. At the same time, he showed the detailed plan to members to show the new way. I think I'm lack of the ability to demonstrate attention to detail. When I was a leader of student organization, I could motivate other organizers by showing our vision, and it seemed to last. But it failed to succeed at the end. When I read Shackleton's action, I realized the reason why I failed. If I showed detailed plan for members to accomplish the vision, they didn't lose their motivation and the result might be different. I misunderstood only thing leader should do is showing vision, but it's not enough. I want to keep it in my mind.

Second, great leader should monitor other's condition and sense when team members are overwhelmed. I quote one of the phrases which impressed me most: "As a leader at The Edge, you must continually scan for people who exhibit nervousness and anxiety."(P. 27)

When Shackleton found one of the crewmembers was discouraged, he solved the problem by giving the new job of cook. Keeping people feeling busy is so important to manage team. I also tried to do that when I was an pre-representative of organization. Keep checking other's condition by talking with them and observing what they are doing. Leader must make win-win relationship between members and organization in order to keep good team.