Earlier this year, my Kindle died. I decided to re-read some books from my bookshelf. One of the first of these was Ernest Shackleton's South - The Story of the Endurance Expedition.
I was reminded of one particular passage last week which really struck me as being highly relevant for us in our current period of turbulence.
Shackleton describes trying to navigate through the constantly shifting ice pack. At times the ship was stuck fast and could only drift, at the mercy of the currents and wind. At other times they were able to force their way through more open stretches. They didn't know what they would be facing on a daily, at times hourly basis.
They couldn't follow a plan - their situation wouldn't allow it. What they did have was a clear purpose and goal. They paid close attention to their environment and responded accordingly. They collaborated. They managed their resources carefully. They adapted.
I contrast this with the last few weeks in UK politics! There seems to be an obsession with certainty and clarity. Of course, that would make life so much simpler, but realistically - that is just not the world we are living in... neither is it likely to be for the foreseeable future.
I even noticed that the person who will probably to be our next Prime Minister wants to 'fix the economy' - like it is a car with a flat tyre that easily be repaired!
Two important things strike me about the leadership we need (not just in politics, but more broadly):
- More nuanced conversations about the complex challenges we face, and how we might make progress together.
- Cultivating more adaptability - we cannot predict the future, but we can become better equipped to deal with it.
What are your thoughts?
PS My Kindle dramatically came back to life!
