D-Day
I’m blessed to be the daughter of not one,
but two World War II veterans. My father (who passed a couple years ago on June 6th) served in Patton’s 3rd Army, my mother as an Army nurse. I’ve seen the power of organizations that
have enjoyed strong leaders at the helm who served our nation, as well as
organizations wise enough to learn take-away lessons from key moments in
history.
June 6 commemorates D-Day, marking the
beginning of the Allied invasion of Europe during World War II. The beaches of Normandy, France, were stormed
in the largest amphibious invasion in history.
France was occupied by Nazi Germany and needed to be freed.
In a recent conversation about where D-Day
took place, two of the history buffs participating in the discussion concluded
that D-Day took place all over. The
planning took place in English and American board rooms. The physical invasion took place in Normandy,
France.
So, what does
D-Day have to do with your leadership today? Here’s a couple considerations. First, what is occupying your workplace,
right now, today that your people need to be freed from? Is it excessive bureaucracy? …lack of engagement? Is your team so stuck in the day-to-day that
critical foresight has not been developed.
The World
Future Society in their 20 Forecasts for 2013-2025 (May 30, 2013), have
sited the key ingredient of success going forward will be possessing
foresight. This is the skill that
enables you to see opportunities, avoid threats, and chart the fastest path to
your goals. The question for you, as a
leader, is what are you doing to develop this critical skill in your
organization? Is scenario planning part
of your active discussions? How much
energy is invested in vision realization?
The next idea spurred by a consideration of D-Day: Is the planning that takes place in your boardroom captured and embraced by team members? Is the vision and strategic planning of your organization so clear that team members can take decisive, positive action? Does what transpires in the executive suite set your team up for success or failure as they execute their duties?
Actionables from Great Leaders
“The
house we hope to build is not for my generation but for yours. It is your future that matters. And I hope that when you are my age, you will
be able to say as I have been able to say:
We lived in freedom. We lived
lives that were a statement, not an apology.”
--Ronald Reagan
Application Challenge: Are you building a business that will stand
in the future? Are you actively pursuing
making your vision (statement) a reality?
Are those in your organization living their lives as statements rather
than apologies?
“I neither ask nor desire to know anything of your
plans. Take the responsibility and act,
and call on me for assistance.”
--Abraham
Lincoln to General Ulysses S. Grant,
on his
Appointment to command the Union Armies, 1864
Application Challenge: What type of delegator are you? Do you trust and empower?
“A sense of humor can be a great help – particularly a
sense of humor about (oneself). William
Howard Taft joked about his own corpulence and people loved it; it took nothing
from his inherent dignity. Lincoln eased
tense moments with bawdy stories, and often poked fun at himself – and history
honors him for this human quality. A
sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people,
of getting things done.”
--Dwight D.
Eisenhower
Application Challenge: When’s the last time you had a good laugh (on
yourself)? Commit to adding laughter to
your life and the lives of those you lead.
“The time to take counsel of your fears is before you
make an important battle decision.
That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and
fears and made your decision, turn off all of your fears and go ahead!”
--Gen. George S.
Patton
Application Challenge: We are living in a change culture. We’re surrounded by change on all sides. In what situation do you need to take
counsel, make a decision, and act?
