What We Can Learn About Leadership from the Chilean Miners

Some days it seems like you have to look long and hard to find examples of inspirational leadership lessons in the news. Today was not one of those days. If you haven’t already done so, you must read the front page article by Alexei Barrionuevo in the New York Times on how the 33 Chilean miners trapped in the copper mine have organized themselves to survive. In an era where lots of people claim to be leaders but don’t deliver, here is a whole group of leaders doing what needs to be done to facilitate their own rescue. 

You’ve probably heard the story by now, but, in case you haven’t, here’s the quick recap. The miners were trapped in a collapse a month ago. They were presumed dead for 17 days until rescue crews on the surface pulled back a drilling tube to find a plastic bag with a note in it that said, “We are fine in the refuge, the 33.”  Since then, rescuers have been able to send necessities and communicate with the miners through a very small shaft running into the half mile deep space. The miners know that it will be between two and four months before they can be dug out.

What they’ve done for themselves since the collapse has been both simple and astounding.  Simple because it makes so much sense.  Astounding because of the grace and discipline they’ve shown under pressure. Through multiple acts of leadership they have organized themselves to take care of their bodies, minds and spirits. The way they’ve done it is instructive and humbling for all of us leading in much less challenging situations.

Here’s some of what we can learn from the miners:

Leaders share the role:  You might assume that the miners’ shift supervisor would take over the sole leadership role. Yes, Luis Urzua is organizing work assignments for the crew,  assisting with the plan to get out of the mine and ensuring that no one eats a meal until everyone’s food has been sent down the shaft. He has not, however, taken on every leadership responsibility for himself.  The oldest miner on the crew, Mario Gomez, has taken the leadership role of attending to the spiritual and mental health of the men. He is consulting with psychologists on the surface to monitor the psychic health of his comrades.  Yonny Barrios has taken the lead on ensuring the physical health of the crew by drawing on six months of nursing training he took 15 years ago. Barrios is administering tests and health screenings to his friends on behalf of the doctors monitoring the situation above ground. What a beautiful and impressive example these men are of leaders who share the work of leadership.

Leaders leverage their gifts:  Each of these three miners along with others on the crew are drawing on the gifts of their life experience and interests to ensure the well being of the unit. Someone I respect recently pointed out to me that you know you’re in the right leadership role when your heart and body and not just your head tell you it’s the right way for you to contribute. That’s more likely to happen when you’re leveraging your gifts. My guess is that Urzua, Gomez and Barrios feel that kind of alignment with the leadership roles they’ve assumed.

Leaders keep the whole person in mind:  Every organization has a bottom line. In the case of a mine rescue, the bottom line is getting the miners out alive. It’s one thing, though, to bring the men out in relatively good physical health. It’s another to bring them out with their mental, spiritual and emotional health intact. How fortunate they are to be led by men who recognize those needs and have organized everyone to consistently attend to them. What difference would it make to the health of our organizations and the people in them if every leader approached their work with such attention and care to the whole person? It’s pretty breathtaking to consider, isn’t it?

What’s inspired you about the Chilean miners, their families and the people working to rescue them?  What other leadership lessons can we learn from these brave and resourceful souls?

If you liked this post, check out this follow up post for leadership lessons from those who rescued the miners.

Comments

[Gayle Ely]

Scott-This quote from the NY Times article regarding Mr. Urzua really struck me.

"When health officials asked him to narrate a 40-minute video of the miners’ life underground, he turned the task over to a younger man, Mario Sepúlveda, 39, who praised Mr. Urzúa in the video for bringing “calm” to his compatriots."

The participants in our organization's Leadership Development Program had just yesterday been discussing the importance of "leadership presence". It is important for leaders to recognize that their responses to issues and circumstances set the tone for those they lead. Mr. Urzua brought "calm" to his compatriots. Had Mr. Urzua panicked under the circumstances, the tone would have been very different.

[Steve Barry]

Nice post, and insightful comment Gayle. That's the second or third time I've heard the phrase "set the tone" in the past week. Tone-setting must be entering our collective consciousness as key to establishing a normalcy in face of turbulence.

[Scott Eblin]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments Gayle and Steve. The other thing that struck me about the aspect of the story that you cited Gayle was that Urzua turned over the microphone. Servant leadership in action.

[Jennifer Tucker]

Beautiful post, Scott, and great synthesis into key transferable insights. Let's keep these men in the spotlight even after initial press interest has waned - true leadership is sustained over the long haul, and 2-4 months is a long long time. They are in our prayers.

[Scott Eblin]

So true on the long haul Jenny and most definitely on the prayers.

[EdieGalley]

Excellent points and lessons.

Am I missing something though, I wanted to share this via Twitter and I could not find a "share" button any where on the blog. It just makes it so much easier for others to share your great work. More people need to read your message.

Thanks...Edie Galley

[Scott Eblin]

Hi Edie. Many thanks. If you'll click on the share this button at the bottom of the post, you can select Twitter as one of the options for sharing. Appreciate it!

[Jim Jackson]

Great, great examples of leadership. Always wonder what one would do in that same situation. Trust in the Lord.

[Jim Mathis]

Scott,
Great comments. I particularly like the point on shared roles. Too many leaders are afraid of sharing power, and pay when trust isn't shared as well.
Thanks!

[Chakraleader]

The mental and spiritual component of providing leadership is pivotal. I would hope that this instance could serve as an inspiration to trend including it at all levels of leadership. It is interesting to note that these circumstances are forced - what are the implications for generalizing the same concepts in a regularly functioning situation when so much free will is involved?

[Sergio Zaragoza]

Great insight on a deep leadership story, in all senses.

[Pablo Gacitua]

It´s amazing how far has this story has gone. Here in Chile we are very proud of our miners. The way how they organized themselves to stay alive for 17 days -yes, 17 days in the dark with no food- before contact from the surface was made, is amazing. The leadership, self-control, encouragement, but also faith and trust that "someone" will find them was never lost. Finally contact was made, and as we say in our country... Viva Chile!

[Engr. Awodeji J.T.]

The day we learn to adopt the miners' approach in resolving our issues as a nation (NIGERIA ) is the day we are set to get out of our overwhelming national problems. Come to NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND GEOSCEINCES (NIMG),JOS. Leadership Skills in practise here!

[Aimee]

This is great illustration of leadership from those who may not have felt that they were a leader. The story is heart touching about what a difference small acts make everyday and in this case difference in a life or death situation. It is actions that establish leadership and influence more than position. Thanks for the article

[Mine]

Great blog post. Love the phrase "turned over the microphone". A great leader once said to me "there is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don' care who gets the credit.

[Scott Eblin]

Thanks one and all for your thoughtful and heartfelt comments. Your points about small acts, integrated approaches to leadership and the human spirit on all well taken. In addition to Pablo's comment, I've received a few e-mails from Chileans who are so justifiably proud of their miners. As Pablo said, Viva Chile!

[Damian Gerke]

Great article. Great to see leaders who are secure enough in themselves to share the leadership and get the job done. Very courageous; and a potent, relevant example.

The dynamic of shared leadership is such a vital — and rare — experience in most of our social structures today. I wish more organizations would structure themselves to allow for it; and reward it.

[Alvarcidane]

It is a chilling analogy to see the miners as humanity under the burdening constraints of environmental degradation. It is inspiring to see that, despite complete darkness and a very thin thread of hope, their faith in a better future prevailed and became a vision and incentive for sensible organization. In more ways than one, they have probably lived enriching events that they would have not experienced otherwise. It is one of the blessings of intentionally moving out of our comfort zones, the discovery of such connecting power. Here we are, talking about them, 800 meters below the ground and the world around.

[leadership development]

Great post. Knowing who you are, what you can do and where you are going, is very important in a situation like this. This is the best example of bringing together individuals of different styles and competencies to work together towards a common goal.