Lessons on authentic leadership from the 58th annual Antarctic
expedition
In Leading on the Edge, successful business speaker and
consultant Rachael Robertson shares the lessons she learned as
leader of a year-long expedition to the wilds of Antarctica.
Leading eighteen strangers around the clock for a full
year–through months of darkness and with no escape from the
frigid cold, howling winds, and each other–Robertson learned
powerful lessons about what real, authentic leadership is. Here,
she offers a deeply honest and humorous account of what it takes to
survive and lead in the harshest environment on Earth. What emerges
from her graphic account is a series of powerful and practical
lessons for business leaders and managers everywhere.
* Features practical leadership lessons that are particularly
helpful for any leader who must get the best out of the team
they’ve got
* Features solutions to many challenges common to all
workplaces
* Includes real excerpts from Robertson’s personal journals
through twelve months of leading in the most challenging
environment in the world
* Written by a popular speaker and business leader who has
appeared at more than 350 national and international conferences
and events for a wide range of industries
Leading on the Edge explains what it’s like to take
charge when you’ve no place to hide and how truly harsh
environments can serve as a leadership laboratory that results in
truly effective, authentic leadership.
Table of Content
A note from the author vii
Acknowledgements ix
Preface xi
Part I: How I got there 1
1 Leadership can be learned, and taught, early 3
2 Very few decisions in life are irreversible, so make some! 11
3 Always look for ways to extend yourself 19
4 Get out of your depth — it’s a great way to learn to swim 25
5 Don’t expect leadership to be an easy ride 31
Part II: Antarctica beckons 37
6 Sometimes the right thing happens for the wrong reason! 39
7 People notice when you try to be someone you’re not 47
8 You know people by what they do, not what they say they do 55
9 First prepare yourself, then leave your comfort zone 63
Part III: Preparing to leave 71
10 Seeing what’s wrong is easy — the hard part is the fix 73
11 Understand the game, and play your hand carefully 85
12 Ask ‘why?’, then keep asking why 95
13 Adventure is not without risk 105
14 Try to stay positive: even the stormiest seas eventually subside 111
15 A handpicked support team can be essential 119
Part IV: Summer in Antarctica 127
16 Make the right decision the right way 129
17 Step up onto the balcony — but you’ll need time and support 137
18 Ambiguity and leadership go hand in hand 145
19 Feeling stressed and overworked? It could be your boundaries 153
20 Good leaders know when to show emotion 163
21 Think ahead and know what you will do in an emergency 171
22 When you’re spending all your time managing, don’t forget to lead 179
Part V: Antarctic winter 189
23 It’s important to know your people, not just the work they do 191
24 As a leader you are being watched, always 201
25 Find a reason, any reason, to celebrate 207
26 Check in on your people: ask R U OK? 219
27 Take care of the little things 227
28 Judgement comes with experience 235
29 ‘No triangles’ takes effort and persistence 241
30 Watch out for three-quarter time — keep your energy up 249
Part VI: The return 259
31 Go the distance 261
Appendix A: What it takes to be an inspirational leader 275
Appendix B: Build teamwork with ‘no triangles’ 281
Index 287
About the author
Rachael Robertson is one of the most in-demand inspirational business speakers and leadership consultants in the world. After more than 20 years’ experience leading teams in complex and challenging environments, Rachael is now transforming leadership around the globe.
www.rachaelrobertson.com
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