Shackleton Group, Inc

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from all of us at Shackleton Group.

Today is about family, connection, and taking a pause from the pace of everyday life. We are grateful not only for the work we get to do, but for the people we get to do it with. Our Shackleton family, the clients who trust us, and the friends and partners who continue to walk alongside us.

Moments like this are a reminder that behind every organization are real people, real families, and relationships that matter far beyond a project or engagement.

We hope today brings time around the table, laughter in the yard, meaningful conversations, and a chance to reset before stepping back into the week ahead.

From our families to yours, Happy Easter.

02/13/2026

The pace of today’s operating environment is not slowing down.

It is accelerating.

Mike and Ed’s perspectives in Beyond Legacy Thinking are not theoretical observations or future considerations. They are immediate leadership imperatives. The organizations that hesitate, debate endlessly, or default to incremental reform will not simply move slower. They will lose alignment, traction, and ultimately relevance.

Speed today is not about activity. It is about clarity.

- Clarity of strategy.
- Clarity of structure.
- Clarity of decision authority.
- Clarity of roles and accountability.

When environments become volatile, the instinct is often to add controls, add layers, or delay difficult decisions in the name of caution. In reality, those reactions compound friction and create internal drag precisely when maneuver and adaptability are required most.

This is why abandoning legacy thinking matters.

The question is not whether transformation is required. It is whether it will be deliberate and disciplined or reactive and fragmented. Leaders must guard against losing focus amid urgency. They must protect alignment as pressures mount. They must sustain traction even as external variables shift.

Organizational Development is not a support function in this environment. It is the engine that preserves coherence while increasing tempo.

If these themes resonate with the challenges you are facing, we encourage you to read the full article and consider what must change inside your organization to deliver real speed, not incremental improvement.

And if you need help structuring that transformation, aligning leadership, or designing an executable roadmap, reach out. We would be honored to support the mission.

Beyond Legacy Thinking:

Download PDF Here Introduction Transforming acquisition into a true Warfighting Acquisition System requires abandoning legacy thinking and applying a

01/01/2026

The start of a new year often brings fresh goals, bold ideas, and renewed motivation. Many teams and leaders are setting priorities and charting what they want the year ahead to look like.

Ex*****on matters, but so does measurement. Goals only become meaningful when progress is visible, decisions are informed, and outcomes are clearly understood. The ability to assess what is working, what is not, and when to adjust course is what keeps momentum strong throughout the year.

As we move into this year, we are focused on building and refining new capabilities that help organizations do exactly that. There is important work underway behind the scenes, and we look forward to sharing more as we gradually open the door on what is coming and how it supports steady leadership and disciplined decision making.

We encourage you to follow along as we share insights, ideas, and tools designed to help keep the ship steady, even as conditions change.

Here is to a year of clarity, progress, and purposeful growth.

01/01/2026

As the year comes to a close, New Year’s Eve gives us a moment to reflect on the people and experiences that shaped it.

We are grateful for the trust, collaboration, and thoughtful conversations shared with clients, partners, and colleagues throughout the year. Working through challenges together and learning along the way is what makes progress meaningful.

Tonight is also a reminder to pause, celebrate, and look ahead with optimism. We hope you enjoy the evening with the people who matter most and step into the new year feeling refreshed and ready for what is ahead.

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and meaningful New Year’s Eve.

The Shackleton Group

12/25/2025

This season gives us a moment to pause and reflect on the year behind us and the people who made it meaningful. We are grateful for the trust of our clients, the collaboration of our partners, and the dedication of the professionals and teams we have the privilege to work alongside. Your commitment, ideas, and effort are what turn challenges into progress and goals into results.

Christmas is also a time to step away from the pace of work and reconnect with what matters most. Family, friends, community, and moments of rest remind us why balance, perspective, and purpose are so important not just during the holidays but throughout the year.

As you gather with those close to you, we hope your days are filled with warmth, laughter, and time well spent. May this season bring renewal, clarity, and optimism as we all look ahead.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas and a safe, peaceful holiday season.

From all of us at Shackleton Group

11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we pause to reflect on what truly matters people, purpose, and the moments in between.

At Shackleton Group, we are deeply grateful for the clients, partners, colleagues, and communities that make our work meaningful. Whether we are helping teams align around strategy, supporting leaders through growth and change, or simply sharing a conversation that sparks clarity, we never take these connections for granted.

We are especially thankful for the trust placed in us. Every collaboration is an opportunity to learn, serve, and make a difference. That is something we carry into every engagement, every day.

From our team to yours, we wish you a season filled with rest, reflection, and the people who bring you joy. And of course, a plate full of your favorite food and pie.

Happy Thanksgiving.

11/11/2025

On Veterans Day, we pause to honor those whose leadership was forged in service.

Their commitment, teamwork, and perseverance continue to shape how we lead and serve today.

From our veteran-owned team at Shackleton Group, thank you to all who have worn the uniform.

🇺🇸 We are grateful for your service.

10/31/2025

From all of us at Shackleton Group, we wish you a Halloween filled with treats, no tricks, and just the right amount of spooky.

Whether you're leading a team or leading a candy haul, stay sharp, stay safe, and watch out for ghost meetings that could have been emails.

Happy Halloween 🎃

09/01/2025

Labor Day began in the 1880s as a tribute to the hardworking people who built the backbone of our country. It became a national holiday in 1894 to recognize the value of honest work, fair treatment, and the everyday contributions of workers in every industry.

It is a day to appreciate how far we have come and the people who make progress possible.

And yes, it has also become a time to relax with friends, fire up the grill, and enjoy the unofficial sendoff to summer.

Here’s to the work we do, the people we do it with, and the well-earned rest that brings us all together.

We all know what today is really about, though... BBQ!

Happy Labor Day.

,

07/10/2025

Strong leadership is not a trend. It is a commitment.

At Shackleton Group, we have spent decades helping organizations bring out the best in their teams by focusing on practical, grounded leadership principles. This article, originally written by our founders Ed Gillcrist and Mike Westman, remains a relevant reflection of what it takes to lead well in today’s environment.

From leveraging diversity and mentoring with intent to knowing how to task and lead with clarity, this piece draws from real-world experience to help leaders shift from managing to truly leading.

“These are relatively simple ways to bring out the best in your team”

⬇️ Read the full article below ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-bring-out-best-your-team-shackleton-group-usgwe

Published by Ed Gillcrist and Mike Westman on October 5, 2019 Originally Published by People Matters Leading teams can be exhausting. Riddled with challenges, short on recognition, but nevertheless rewarding.

07/04/2025

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Shackleton Group 🇺🇸

Today we celebrate the strength of our nation, the freedoms we hold dear, and the shared spirit that brings Americans together. The Fourth of July is a time to gather with family, enjoy traditions, and reflect on the values that connect us all.

From coast to coast, communities will come alive with fireworks, parades, cookouts, and laughter. It is in these simple moments that we are reminded of what truly matters. Family. Freedom. Unity. And the belief that together, we can continue to build something worth protecting.

We are proud to stand with those who serve, lead, and contribute to the fabric of this country. Whether you are spending the day with loved ones, honoring those who came before us, or simply enjoying the sunshine, we hope your day is filled with pride and purpose.

Wishing you a safe and joyful Independence Day filled with love, gratitude, and the best of what it means to be American 🎆🗽❤️

07/02/2025

Leadership today feels different. It is no longer just about setting direction or hitting milestones. It is about making decisions in ambiguity, holding teams together through exhaustion, and keeping an organization focused when the ground is constantly shifting.

We wrote Maintaining Organizational Balance because in moments like this, the organizations that endure and outperform are not necessarily the ones with the flashiest strategy. They are the ones with alignment. The ones where structure supports ex*****on, where people know why their work matters, and where leadership brings clarity and consistency to the noise.

Across industries, we are seeing signs of strain. Long-standing processes are breaking down. Communication is fraying under new technology. Results are inconsistent even when effort is not. These are symptoms of imbalance, and the solution is not to simply push harder. It is to step back and assess whether your organization is in sync.

This article presents a clear and tested framework that we have used with senior leaders in military, public sector, and private enterprise. It is not theoretical. It is built for pressure-tested environments. And it is deeply relevant to the moment we are in.

If your team is moving fast but feeling misaligned

If performance is slipping despite effort

If you sense a gap between strategy and results

Now is the time to restore balance before the gap grows wider.

We hope this helps you and your team move forward with more focus and less friction. The full article is linked below. We welcome your thoughts and conversations.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shackleton-group_leadership-organizationalbalance-shackletongroup-activity-7345926632618024961-Omjr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABUO3fQBJW3n67UkbrfknfcHfju4pDFh1Qg

*****onMatters

Leadership today feels different. It is no longer just about setting direction or hitting milestones. It is about making decisions in ambiguity, holding teams together through exhaustion, and keeping an organization focused when the ground is constantly shifting. We wrote Maintaining Organizational....