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

The problem and the solution. 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 Jon Krakauer chronicled his own firsthand 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.