I recently posted a question on Facebook asking friends what they think is the most important characteristic of great leadership (a highly scientific and validated poll!). The answers ran the gamut from honesty and integrity to fairness and fun. But one quality that kept popping up intrigued me the most.
Courage.
Here in South Louisiana, we might call it sans peur et sans reproche, or without fear. In fact, many deemed courage to be the one most important quality of a great leader.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Nando Parado speak at a National Speakers Association conference. While you might not recognize his name, you may recall his story. And what a story it is!
In 1972, a charter plane carrying Nando’s Uruguayan rugby team and a few family members crashed deep in the remote, snowy mountains of the Andes. For 72 days, the world assumed all those on board had died. But several survivors endured unimaginable hunger and cold (many had never seen snow before and most wore only t-shirts, jeans, and flip flops) and even survived an avalanche. They stayed alive by resorting to cannibalism.
Nando, after recovering from a severe head injury and learning that both his mother and sister had died, assumed a leadership role among the survivors. No one assigned this role to him or gave him a title. Instead, he saw a need and stepped up.
Consequently, young Nando (only 22 at the time) decided not to stay at the crash site and wait indefinitely to be found—or starve to death. With his teammate Roberto, he set off to find help—no going back. While he knew they might die making the trek, at least they would die going for help for all of them. The two hiked for 10 days until they finally came across a Chilean farmer who summoned those who eventually rescued them.
The story of Nando Parrado has fascinated me since I heard it as a young girl. Listening to him tell it in person and with visuals moved me to tears. I was especially struck by his unbelievable will to live and, like others hearing his story, asked, “Would I have had a fraction of Nando’s courage in a similar situation?”
The next time something really scares you, whether it be going out on a limb for a teammate, stepping up to ask for a raise, giving a presentation to a critical or crucial client, think of Nando’s courage.
To learn more Cajun wisdom to spice up your leadership, check out the full recipe in “Lead, Follow, or Get Me the Hot Sauce.”
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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication. In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems.
Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash
