Leading on Top of the World: Lessons from Into Thin Air

Abstract

In May 1996, a rogue blizzard blindsided several teams of mountain climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest. Nine climbers died in the frigid conditions after enduring wind chill temperatures in excess of 100 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). In 1997, author John Krakauer chronicled his own first-hand account of the Everest disaster in his best-selling book Into Thin Air. Using Krakauer's account as a backdrop, this article examines several of the leadership theories and concepts demonstrated in the failed climb. Specifically, this article explores the skills approach, situational leadership theory, and team leadership concepts, as well as the influence of power bases and trust on decision making. Finally, teaching strategies are discussed that the reader may find useful when using this work to develop leadership competencies in others.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 25, 2007
Accession Number
ADA462763

Entities

People

  • David W. Keller

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Best Practices
  • Climbing
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Disasters
  • High Altitude
  • Internal Pressure
  • Jet Aircraft
  • Judgment
  • Leadership
  • Lessons Learned
  • Mountains
  • Sea Level
  • Students
  • Wind Chill

Readers

  • Materials Science
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.