Dennis Perkins

Biography

Dennis Perkins is Chief Executive Officer of The Syncretics Group, a consulting firm devoted to effective leadership in demanding environments -- especially those characterized by uncertainty, ambiguity, and rapid change. Dr. Perkins has worked for over twenty-five years as an advisor to senior leaders in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to nonprofit associations. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, he served as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam. He subsequently received his MBA from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in psychology at The University of Michigan. While a faculty member at the Yale University School of Management, he developed a breakthrough leadership approach based on the study of groups facing "The Edge" - the outer limits of human endurance. By studying The Edge, Dr. Perkins believes, "leaders can learn what it takes to help their organizations achieve their greatest potential. And they can remember these principles when they are stretched, stressed, and challenged to the limit." Dr. Perkins' passion to understand The Edge has taken him to disparate places - to Antarctica, where he retraced the footsteps of famed explorer, Ernest Shackleton; and to Australia, where he sailed with the crew of the Midnight Rambler, winners of the challenging 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race. He subsequently completed the 700 mile race, often called "the Everest" of offshore racing, as a crew member on a Volvo 60 racing boat. Dr. Perkins has written extensively on leadership and organizational effectiveness. He is the author of Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition; Leadership Lessons from the Race to the South Pole; and Managing Creation: The Challenge of Building a New Organization.

Publications

Leading at the Edge Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition Part adventure story, part leadership guide, this engaging book examines Shackleton's legendary Antarctic expedition through the lens of business to reveal a set of powerful strategies for corporate leaders. In the chronicles of extraordinary adventures and against-the-odds survival, nothing compares to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team of South Pole explorers. Stranded in the frozen sea for nearly two years, they endured extreme temperatures, hazardous ice, dwindling food, complete isolation, and perpetual blackness. Yet, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the group remained cohesive, congenial, and mercifully alive-a fact that speaks not just to luck but to an unparalleled feat in leadership. Now, for the first time ever, Leading at the Edge draws on this amazing story to reveal the power of effective organizational leadership under conditions of uncertainty, ambiguity, and rapid change. The book uncovers ten lessons complete with stirring examples from the Shackleton expedition, as well as contemporary business case studies of the strategies in action on what it takes to be a great leader. Readers learn how to: Readers learn how to: * Set a personal example with vivid symbols and behaviors * Instill optimism while staying grounded in reality * Reinforce the team message constantly * Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about * Have the courage to take big risks, and more. For managers and executives who feel stressed out or stretched thin, these memorable strategies will help bring order to chaos and success in the face of the most daunting adversity.

Titles

-Leadership at the Edge®: The Shackleton Saga The Leadership at The Edge presentation recounts the saga of legendary Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton. On December 5, 1914, Shackleton and 27 men sailed from South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean aboard a wooden vessel named the Endurance. Their burning goal was to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent. Forty five days after their departure, disaster struck. Endurance was beset by solid pack ice, and the expedition was trapped. For nearly two years, Shackleton and his crew were stranded in the icy sea. They endured unimaginable hardships: brutal cold, total darkness, aching thirst, gnawing hunger, constant danger, and utter desolation. Facing these challenges with astonishing good cheer, Shackleton and his crew returned, without loss of life, after 634 days in the Frozen South. How did Shackleton inspire his crew to such extraordinary levels of courage, unity, and commitment? The Leadership at The Edge presentation answers that question, and explains how Shackleton's leadership approach can be applied to any leadership challenge in today's business environment. -Teamwork at the Edge®: The Midnight Rambler Story The Teamwork at The Edge presentation tells the contemporary story of the AFR Midnight Rambler, winners of the treacherous 1998 Sydney to Hobart race. This 723-mile, deep water challenge -- often called the "Everest" of offshore ocean racing -- is considered one of the toughest in the world. Unpredictable weather and seas make each race particularly challenging, but the 1998 race proved to be the most perilous in the race's 61-year history. As the starting fleet of 115 boats sailed south down the coast of Australia, the fleet was hit by an unexpected "weather bomb"-a massive storm that created 80-foot waves and near 100 mph winds. Six sailors perished in the maelstrom, and another 42 were saved in what became the largest search and rescue operation in Australia's history. While many tried to maneuver around the storm, the crew of the AFR Midnight Rambler chose to head directly into its path. After battling mountainous waves and hurricane force winds in the Bass Strait, the diminutive 35-foot boat arrived safely in Tasmania. The decision to head into the eye of the storm, along with their extraordinary tenacity, optimism, courage, and teamwork, enabled this group of "amateurs" to out-perform the professionals on bigger boats. The skipper, Ed Psaltis, and his crew of six, were proclaimed overall winners and awarded the coveted Tattersalls Trophy. They were the smallest boat in 10 years to win the iconic race. What were the factors underneath this stunning victory? This inspiring presentation answers that question, and explores the nature of building and leading a high-performance team in the face of change and adversity.