Andrew St George - lessons from the Navy

It's not about eloquence, it's not about how many qualifications you have, it's about being steadfast.

Author, academic and special advisor Andrew St George was recruited by the Royal Navy to write their leadership framework. At Catalyst Live this week, he described his experiences with humour and shared with his audience the lessons of acceptance, steadfastness and moral courage he learnt from the Navy.

"I spent time of aircraft carriers and submarines, I dangled from helicopters and slept in snow holes, I got wet, tired, muddy and cold," Dr St George explained. "But I also discovered that the Navy runs on courage, commitment, discipline, respect, integrity and loyalty. Qualities any organisation would strive for."

Perhaps the most surprising quality he described as prevalent within the Navy is cheerfulness. Despite living in crowded conditions and doing immensly high-pressure work, "if people had the choice to be cheerful, they would be cheerful," Andrew St George told audiences in Manchester and Reading. "No one follows a pessimist."

Ending with the story of Shackleton, the man who, 100 years ago, led most of his crew out of Antarctica when it would have been so easy for him to have lost hope, Dr St George left Catalyst Live reflecting on the positive characteristics all good leaders should possess. Characteristics we should all strive for: optimism, cheerfulness, acceptance, respect, courage and, above all, hope.

28/11/2013