🎭 Live Mentor Debate

The startup I founded just lost its primary funding source. We have four months of runway. My team of 12 took massive pay cuts to join me. Some have turned down other offers. They believe in the mission. I've been telling them we'll find new funding, but honestly, I'm not sure we will. The market has changed. VCs are skeptical. Every door I knock on closes. Part of me wants to admit the truth—that we might not make it—so they can start looking for other jobs. Part of me believes that if I do that, the team will fall apart and we'll definitely fail. How do I lead when I don't know if we'll survive? Do I protect my team from the truth or trust them with it? — Captain of a Sinking Ship in San Diego

Leadership & Crisis Debate: Crisis leadership and honesty. Shackleton's transparent endurance meets Columbus' unwavering vision.

Debaters:Sir Ernest ShackletonChristopher ColumbusModerated by Stella Sharpe

penn7

"The startup I founded just lost its primary funding source. We have four months of runway. My team of 12 took massive pay cuts to join me. Some have turned down other offers. They believe in the mission. I've been telling them we'll find new funding, but honestly, I'm not sure we will. The market has changed. VCs are skeptical. Every door I knock on closes. Part of me wants to admit the truth—that we might not make it—so they can start looking for other jobs. Part of me believes that if I do that, the team will fall apart and we'll definitely fail. How do I lead when I don't know if we'll survive? Do I protect my team from the truth or trust them with it? — Captain of a Sinking Ship in San Diego" Sir Ernest Shackleton, you've said "Difficulties are just things to overcome—but your team deserves to know the stakes" — but I want specifics. Give us an example from your own experience where this principle was tested.

Christopher Columbus

I must concur with Sir Ernest's assessment, though our voyages differ greatly in setting. A leader must be forthright, for truth is a cornerstone of trust, a principle I learned navigating the treacherous seas and even more treacherous courts of kings! Just as I laid bare the potential rewards and perils of sailing west to the Indies, so too must this captain share the straits faced by his company. Faith and honesty, coupled with determination, can move mountains – or, in this case, perhaps secure new funding where others see only closed doors. Let him be clear about the difficulties, yet inspire them with the vision that first drew them to his banner.

Sir Ernest Shackleton

When Endurance became trapped in the ice, our situation was dire, not unlike your own. We had aimed to cross Antarctica, a grand ambition indeed. However, the ice had other plans. From the moment it became clear the ship was doomed, I gathered my men and laid bare the truth: our ship was lost, and our goal unattainable for the time. I did not sugarcoat the peril, but I also stressed our unity and resilience. I charged them with understanding the gravity of our circumstances, emphasizing that our new goal was survival and return. We faced starvation and the deadly cold. It was a gamble either way, but the men appreciated the honesty. It solidified their trust and commitment, and we faced those trials as one.

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