Business-Like Structure Helps Keep Chilean Miners Alive and Well

For two long grueling months, 30 Chilean men ranging from the age of 19 to 65 have been trapped in a copper mine almost 2 miles down in the Chilean soil. We have all watched the last few days as the rescue team has pulled these helpless workers from what everyone thought was going to be their tomb. One at a time these brave workers are pulled out of a mine shoot no wider than a human body, hugging and kissing their loved ones while other Chilean workers at the top chant Chi, Chi, Chi, Le, Le, Le. Chile has always been a country full of citizens with extreme patriotism. However, we have learned that only do they have love for their country, but a keen sense for survival using business practices that we all see in many organizations to keep themselves alive and well.

During the first several days of being down in the mine, all 30 mine workers decided to create a hierarchy system in order to keep their cool, and I would imagine, their sanity. They voted for certain positions on who would do what. Some of these positions were:

Leader - In business a CEO or President

Record Keeper - Each day that person was responsible for keeping records on what they did and how they did it.

Spokesperson - One person was tasked on communicating with the rescue workers while they were in the mine and while the rescue workers were on the surface.

Food Manager - A certain mine worker was in charge of making sure each person had their fair rations of food and water for that day.

We do not know if all mine workers were responsible for a certain task, but what an amazing strategy to keep the humanism in such a non-human environment.It is amazing how millions of dollars are spent each year on consulting and coaching in our everyday business lives.

If you have ever been in a small business, it is quite difficult to keep a calm and cool group with a hierarchical system. When our lives are on the line, it comes together like it was wired inside of us.A cool little side note. Oakley donated their sun glasses to the mine workers so that when they came to the surface they had something to protect their eyes from the sun they so much longed for. A big thank you to Oakley and their thoughtfulness.