Leading in Extreme Conditions Respect Trumps Harmony With Rachael Robertson
My guest, Rachael Robertson, led a team of 18 people through a 12-month research expedition in Antarctica. She was chosen to lead this expedition after a boot camp interview process measured her ability to lead with empathy.
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I\u2019m excited to talk to her about what it means to lead in extreme conditions, what we can learn from her experience as we progressively open up post-pandemic, and how we can all better our leadership practices in the face of a new world.
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From the challenges of confinement in months of full darkness and full daylight, we talk about the importance of routine in keeping people\u2019s mental health optimal, the necessity for facts over emotions, and how to build a team from strangers with diverse backgrounds in one of the toughest environments on the planet. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on what it means to lead in extreme environments.
Tips For Leading in Tough Environments
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- Leading through a crisis \u2014 Rachael\u2019s team\u2019s plane crashed during her time in Antarctica \u2014 Be poised and calm, keep your head up and your shoulders down, and be careful with your choice of words (concern and worry are not the same).
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- Respect trumps harmony \u2014 Rachael explains how the \u201cBacon Wars\u201d boiled down to respect. She also touches on the importance of challenging the idea, not the person, and only with facts.
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- No triangles \u2014 when you\u2019re under stress and pressure, the last thing you need is someone complaining about you behind your back and absolute words are a no-no (everyone, no one always).
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- Honesty resonates with people \u2014 It is powerful for a leader to admit that they don\u2019t know something with certainty, be open to admitting when you don\u2019t know something and be quick with the information when you have it; it will build trust.
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- Keeping your head while on duty for 12 months, 24 hours a day \u2014 Journal, it is very cathartic and being a leader can be lonely; reach out to peers so you have someone to talk to.
About Karen Tiber Leland
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Karen Tiber Leland is the founder of Sterling Marketing Group, a branding, marketing, and color strategy and implementation firm helping CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs develop stronger personal, business, and team brands. Her clients include Cisco, American Express, Marriott Hotels, Apple Computer, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
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She is also the best-selling author of nine traditionally-published business books that have sold over 400,000 copies and been translated into 10 languages. Her most recent book is The Brand Mapping Strategy: Design, Build, and Accelerate Your Brand. She regularly writes for Inc.com and Entrepreneur.com and has had articles published in Self, The Los Angeles Times, American Way, The Boston Globe, and many others.
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Karen has spoken for Harvard, The AMA, Direct Marketing Association, and Stanford, among others. She has been interviewed on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, and Oprah.
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Get in touch with Karen on Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
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About Our Guest
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After 15 years of leading diverse and remote teams and business units, I took the jump and lead the 58th annual expedition to the edge of the world: Antarctica. It was a tough, grueling and exhausting year, but ultimately extremely rewarding and fruitful.
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The intensity of this leadership role, where the leader is on-duty all day, every day, for 12 months with no respite, gave me the opportunity to road-test my leadership ideas the hard way \u2014 without the luxury of peers, a desk, or high-speed broadband! It was a
\u201cleadership laboratory\u201d in the most extreme, hostile environment on Earth.
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You can learn more about Rachael Robertson on Twitter|LinkedIn|Instagram|Facebook|Website
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Book: Respect Trumps Harmony: Why being liked is overrated and constructive conflict gets results, by Rachael Robertson
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Mentioned
Resources
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Are you looking to firmly establish your CEO or executive brand, expand your influence, or become more of a thought leader in your field? Consider my personal brand strategy mapping process and book a 20-minute complimentary phone consultation.
For more information on my service offer, contact me directly at karen@karenleland.com or visit Sterling Marketing Group.