Leaders and companies can learn a lot from Operation Chile Mine Rescue.

1. What companies can learn
from Chile miners rescue
Staff Motivation 3.0
Erica Liang
Change Management Consultant
Oct 14, 2010
Photo credits: Reuters, AP, BBC

2. Each miner is assigned a clear task,
clearing debris, documenting life
underground, however mundane.
Everyone is accountable for one thing.
Setting goals and purpose for each individual is in fact
motivating. Asking everyone to do one thing means it “Ain’t
my problem”.

3. Miners’ health and
good spirits in no small
part helped by strict
regime and diet. Some
even in better shape
than before.
Encourage discipline. Incentivise appropriately. Communicate
benefits. Regularly.

4. President Pinera holding up first note
from the 33 miners trapped 630m
underground
Celebrate every milestone. Break a large goal into little ones.
Publicly announce after every small step is reached.

5. Under promise, over deliver. Oh and always offer options.
Customer and staff satisfaction guaranteed.
While three drills aptly named Plan A, B and C were competing
round the clock to reach the cave first, even after Plan B got
through, officials managed expectations of rescue timings carefully.

6. This gentleman turned up
voluntarily to bring joy at
Camp Hope when he
saw the miners’ kids
waiting for their dads
there. His action
prompted authorities to
set up temporary school
on site.
Encourage initiative. Have as diverse a team you can afford.
Listen to their needs. Give them the resources and tools to do
more.

7. Four test runs satisfied engineers,
doctors and support team before
sending for the first miner. No details
spared. The winch + Fenix 2 proved
to be an effective, simple elevation
system.
Going in unprepared is recipe for failure. User trials and
rehearsals are time well spent. Better yet, keep it simple.

8. Relatives and friends share media tent.
Comaraderie and single focal point leads
to intense focus awaiting each miner
popping out from capsule.
Stay focussed on tangible results. Leaders, create community
by providing communal resource. Then stay out of it.

9. Protocol, SOP, checklist, rules, best practice.
If you’ve got it, execute it. No exceptions. Or
everyone will try to be the exception.
BBC: Does every miner really need a stretcher?
Most seem so energetic after emerging.
Chile Special Forces Medic: We had a protocol.
We stuck to it.

10. Every single miner given their
moment of freedom to shine in front
of their dearest and the world.
Leaders take every chance to publicly show gratitude to each
contributor. Or allow each staff to shine. Mediocrity takes a
back seat if thrust into limelight.