8 Leadership Lessons From Kayaker Walter Szulc Jr’s Encounter With A Great White Shark

The frightening picture you are looking at is of Walter Szulc Jr. whose kayak was stalked by a great white shark this past weekend on the beaches of Cape Cod, MA.  Fortunately, Szulc was not attacked and is still alive to relive the memories of coming face-to-face with the shark.  Boston’s WHDH television did the first interview with the kayaker which you can hear by clicking here.

After listening to the accounts of both Szulc as well as witnesses on the beach, there are several leadership lessons we can glean from this terrifying encounter:

1. Trouble Silently Creeps Up On You – Leaders are often completely unaware of dangers that may be lurking in their organizations.  Being continually blind-sided is a luxury leaders simply cannot afford.  Similar to the picture above, if leaders are unaware and do not have their ears to the ground, the results could be fatal.
2. Others Often See Trouble Before You Do – Szulc was the last one to see the shark.  He did not have 360 degree vision.  No leader does.  Therefore, leaders must have a team with different perspectives.
3. Leaders Often Do Not Hear The Pleas Of Others – Szulc did not hear the screams and warnings from those who were safely on the beach.  Leaders, do you listen to your team?  Can you hear their cries?  More importantly, are you intuitive enough to hear what they are NOT saying?
4. The Longer You Wait To Address A Problem, The Bigger It Becomes – The pictures show and eye-witness accounts say the shark was bigger than the kayak.  When leaders wait too long to address an issue, it often reaches proportions that are no longer manageable.
5. Upon Learning Of Danger, Leaders Should Take Immediate Action – After seeing the shark, Szulc immediately paddled to safety.  Who wouldn’t?  Leaders, though you may have been passive and initially waited waited too long, the responsibility of your position requires that you take immediate action.
6. Many Ignore Danger - After spotting the shark, the beaches were immediately closed.  However, when the lifeguards got off duty at 7:00 PM, many swimmers re-entered the water.  Some leaders continually “re-enter the water” by defaulting to bad habits and behaviors though they know danger exists .  Please know that ignoring danger places your leadership at risk.
7. The Odds Are Not As Good As You Think – Szulc never dreamed he would encounter a great white shark.  The odds were just too small.  It would never happen to him.  But it did.  Leaders understand that though the odds may be small, the stakes are too high to take unnecessary risks.  It only takes one mistake, one miscalculation, one error in judgement to lose all your influence.
8. Listen To Your Family – Szulc’s daughter told him to stay out of the water because it was dangerous.  Leaders should listen to their families.  They have a sixth sense about danger and desire only our best interests.

Other than staying out of shark-infested waters, what leadership principles did you glean from Szulc’s experience?

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