In 2010, a collapse at the San Jose copper-gold mine in northern Chile trapped 33 men 2,300 feet underground for 69 days. The desperate situation called for extraordinary leadership. Once he realized the gravity of the situation, foreman Luis Urzua took charge and organized his men for survival. He kept the men on 12-hour shifts building out new areas, reinforcing walls and roofs, and drawing maps. He used the lights of mining trucks to simulate daylight and had the miners write letters of thanks to rescue workers in preparation of being saved.
Leadership Notes From Way Underground
Love this. "The fear of failure distorts our ability to operate rationally and embrace new ideas."