Leadership Lessons from the Past
Recently while waiting to board a Southwest Airlines flight I was watching passengers come off the plane that had just arrived.
The first gentleman to deplane was an elderly gentleman wearing a hat proudly proclaiming that he was a World War II veteran. As I watched his progress a hand came out of the crowd standing nearby and touched his shoulder and a young Hispanic man leaned over and thanked the older gentleman for his service to our country. Suddenly a smile spread across the veteran’s face as he realized that someone had recognized his contribution and for a brief moment the two men bridged time and found a common bond – one that was shared over 50 years ago as Americans came together to overcome one of the greatest challenges the world has ever faced. It immediately occurred to me that, while not nearly as horrific, we are, once again, facing a crisis of similar scope and scale. And just as we did then we must join together to overcome the challenges we face.
We can learn a great lesson from the women and men who make up the “Greatest Generation”. Regardless of race, gender or religion they willingly sacrificed for a country they loved and in which they believed. Those who could serve in combat did... those who could not found ways to support those who were on land, sea and in the air fighting or helping others fight for own country. They selflessly sacrificed, gave their lives or were prepared to and did not expect something in return... it was simply their duty; it was their mission – and they were unified in their cause and resolve.
Whether in the public or private sector it is unlikely that any organization has not been touched by the current economic fiasco. And every public or private sector employee, every business leader and every elected official must learn from the examples of our past and find that common purpose and selflessness to begin to work our way out of the mess. Every leader of every organization must engage the entire team, focus on their most pressing business issues and strategic imperatives, and leverage best of breed tools and practices to re-spark growth and accelerate their drive toward efficiency and effectiveness.
