Captain Slacker stood up to deliver his operations order. He described the mission with enthusiasm. We all would board helicopters, fly to the landing zone, disembark, and take the objective by force. A classic raid operation. The rest of the battalion would arrive by truck. Captain Slacker ended the briefing with a loud hooah, fully confident. Our Battalion Commander was in the room listening intently. He seemed unsettled. I was a platoon leader in the Army, wondering if I was experiencing a lessons learned moment. My hunch was accurate.
Operations orders describe the plan in detail.
Things went from good to go to bad
The Battalion Commander asked one question. “Captain, who told you that your company would be conducting the raid via helicopters?” Silence. “Your company is arriving in the trucks. Your plan is crap! Fix it!! I will return in an hour to hear your new plan. Hooah, indeed.” You could hear a pin drop in the room as the Battalion Commander left the room while we all stood at attention.
Blowing it in front of a senior leader is always painful.
Learn from others mistakes to avoid repeating them – make sure everyone knows the strategy
We all helped Captain Slacker revamp the plan so that he was prepared for the battalion commander’s return. The second briefing went fine, but we could all tell that the colonel was still pissed. I learned later it was because Captain Slacker missed the meeting where the battalion strategy was shared. I made a mental note. Make sure I know the strategy before writing my own plan. It is a mistake I have seen many times in my career. Lesson learned #1 – make sure everyone knows the strategy, or else you will see plans that make zero sense.
Not knowing the strategy leads to misaligned plans.
Lessons Learned #2 – Communicate it often
As a leader, you remember the strategy. The question is whether, or not, your stakeholders remember it. Don’t be surprised if they don’t. You need to communicate the strategy often, especially for bold ones that will be challenging to implement. When obstacles arise your team members will ask why are we doing this. Reiterate the strategy to them – it will help you get everyone to the finish line, especially when things get hard.
All-hands meetings are excellent opportunities to communicate the strategy.
Lessons Learned #3- Create a clever way to capture the central idea
It is difficult for me to remember stuff. We all face this challenge. You do and so do your team members. Help them remember the strategy by creating a clever way to capture the central idea. A few methods that seem to work well include using an acronym, slogan, or graphic depiction of the strategy. Some of you are probably shaking your head thinking this lesson learned is unnecessary. Trust me it is a worthwhile investment of your time to come up with a clever way to communicate it to your stakeholders. Otherwise, they will forget it quickly.
An excellent example of an easy-to-remember acronym.
Lessons Learned #4 – Market it
Yes – you read that correctly. You need to market your strategy. Use a memorable slogan or compelling graphic to get the word out. I am a big fan of having a one-page summary of the strategy that you can use post and easily reuse. Another technique that seems to work well is to brand your communications with a slogan or graphic. Your stakeholders will see it consistently and be reminded on a regular basis where the organization is going.
Apple uses clever marketing for its talent strategy.
Bottom line – leverage these four lessons learned for crafting your winning strategy
Make sure everyone knows the strategy.
Communicate it often.
Create a clever way to capture the central idea.
Market it.
Manage the top line: your strategy, your people, and your products, and the bottom line will follow.
Steve Jobs
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
I listened intently as the senior leader spoke. He was sharing the “new” strategy with the leadership team. It was the same old, same old. He claimed that we were in normal market conditions, and if we worked hard everything would be fine. In fact, the market had shifted. Conditions were much more challenging than the past few years, and we needed a new strategy. Our leader did not deliver one. Fast forward a year and things were not good. We missed our targets. A new leader was brought in. Our previous leader made a classic mistake and paid the price. He did not know the practical tactical tips leaders leverage to craft a winning strategy.
Practical tactical tips to craft a winning strategy
Practical tactical tips are worth jotting down for future use.
Practical Tactical Tip (PTT) #1 – Don’t take too long to craft the strategy
Speed matters a lot these days. If you are going to implement a winning strategy – it needs to be timely. One vitally important lesson that the pandemic taught all organizations is that change may come much faster than you anticipate. With that thought in mind, don’t take too long to craft the strategy. If you do, you risk missing the opportunity window that will determine if the strategy is successful, or not. In general, I recommend taking no longer than 90 days to craft your strategy. That may seem fast to some. I was in an organization that took many months to craft our strategy. While we wasted time pondering, our competitor moved out with a new strategy and crushed us. It took years to recover from our protracted approach.
PTT#2 – Don’t look too far out for the future state
Any strategy should focus on getting an organization to a desired future state. Clearly identifying the destination you are trying to reach provides clarity to all stakeholders. One thing that has changed over the past few decades is the time horizon used for effective strategies. Five and ten-year strategies used to be all the rage. Nowadays, it is difficult to project what things will be like that far forward. Instead, I recommend framing any strategy for the next few years. No more than 1-3 years out. Five years is far-fetched. Ten years is pure fiction. Any strategy time horizon longer than that is a complete fantasy.
Make sure to include a future state in your strategy.
PTT#3 – Avoid calling everything a strategy
In the office, you hear the word strategy thrown around a lot. It is a buzzword. In fact, some people say that you need many strategies to accomplish an outcome. When I hear most people say strategy, they are actually talking tactics, techniques, goals, or objectives. Watch the video below if you want a quick primer on what a strategy is and is not. I recommend avoiding calling everything a strategy – it will confuse your stakeholders, and make you look uninformed as a leader.
Remember – Collaboration creates buy-in
One final reminder. Remember that collaboration creates buy-in. If you include stakeholders in crafting the strategy they will be more open to it than if you leave them out until it is time to implement. Sure – collaboration requires more time and energy than crafting the strategy yourself, but it is well worth the investment.
Collaboration creates better ideas and strategies.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
This weekend we honor the fallen by commemorating Memorial Day. It is one of the most important American holidays. Many of us know someone who paid the ultimate price to keep us free. If you served in the military over the past few decades it is more than likely that you are aware of an empty chair at a family table somewhere this weekend. With that thought in mind, I am honoring a hometown hero that I knew who sacrificed his life several years ago. Every Memorial Day I remember Humayun Khan. May he forever rest in peace.
Captain Khan’s tombstone in Arlington Cemetary.
A hero and his family face controversy
A few years ago there was a lot of talk about Captain Humayun Khan, an American hero. His father’s comments at the 2016 Democratic National Convention created a tidal wave of media coverage. People took sides, the press stirred the pot. Instead of his death bringing Americans together, it divided us even more. At the time I was concerned that the most important part of the story was getting lost in all the noise. So, I am going to share the details of the heroic actions of Captain Khan. Both of my sons have heard this story many times before, but it is worth telling again.
Political ad from 2016 that included the Khan family
I knew Humayun Khan when he was a student
He was enrolled in the University of Virginia Army ROTC program while I was an instructor there from 1999 to 2001. I remember Humayun as a fine young man. He was pretty serious, focused on success, and responsive to training. He performed well as an ROTC cadet. To be frank – he did not really stand out from his peers. He fit in and showed great leadership potential like all his classmates did when they graduated from UVA and received their commissions. I did not think much about him until years later when I learned that he was killed in action while serving in Iraq. Like everyone who knew him, I took the news hard. I could only imagine what his family was going through. I can think of no greater challenge in life than losing a child. It must be devastating. My sympathies to the Khan family.
Khizr and Ghazala Khan announced the Humayun Khan Memorial Scholarship Fund at UVA.
Captain Khan was brave when it mattered most
It is worth talking about the heroic actions Captain Khan took when he paid the ultimate sacrifice. Here is a brief description:
On June 8, 2004, Khan was inspecting a guard post when a suspicious taxicab began approaching too quickly. Ordering his subordinates away from the vehicle, Khan ran forward 10–15 steps and was killed by a suicide car bomb fitted with an improvised explosive device. The car detonated before it could reach the gates or the nearby mess hall where hundreds of soldiers were eating breakfast. Khan was also posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Plaque for Captain Khan that hangs on the Rotunda at UVA.
Several years ago I participated in Veteran’s Day activities at a local elementary school. At that event, I shared the story of Captain Khan with the students. I explained the circumstances of his death and described three reasons why I believe he is a true American hero. It seems appropriate to share them this Memorial Day.
Captain Khan’s actions demonstrate three heroic qualities
Captain Khan put others first. He ordered his troops to take cover so that they were safe while he assessed the situation. He thought about them before he thought about himself.
Captain Khan possessed the personal courage to face danger head-on. He did not shy away from it. It is not a natural act for any of us to put ourselves in harm’s way. In this case, he saved the lives of many, by sacrificing his own.
Captain Khan built a legacy for others to emulate. His story of courage, bravery, and sacrifice should inspire us to greatness. When I think of Khan and his sacrifice, it makes me want to be a better person. I hope it does the same for you.
Captain Khan’s parents doing an interview.
Real heroes do exist
I do not expect that many of us will ever face a similar situation. Lord knows that I hope none of us ever do. But, it is reassuring to know that we have heroes like Khan in our midst. Heroes do exist. They don’t wear capes, fly an invisible jet, or come from another planet. Rather they are everyday people – like you and me. The difference is that they do extraordinary things when called into action.
In a twist of fate, my family used to live in the same house that the Khans owned when their son died. After we moved in I met his family, and we exchanged letters multiple times. I will share that part of the story at another time. This blog post is about honoring a hero, Captain Humayun Khan, so I will end here.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
She took a big swig of Diet Coke. The first slide was displayed on the screen. It described the current state. Next slide. It was a vision for where she wanted the organization to go. The room was packed with her team members. She was rolling out a bold new strategy. This was the meeting to share the strategy and build consensus. If she did not get them on board the strategy would stall. Next slide. She talked through the details they had crafted as a team. The energy in the room went up dramatically. It was time to execute. Exciting days were ahead. She had prepared well for this moment by asking herself several insightful questions beforehand.
Getting buy-in from your team is key to success
I am not a strategy expert
All The Way Leadership! believes that crafting a winning strategy is what strong leaders do. I am not a strategy expert. If you want to go deep into that topic find someone who is. Instead, I simply advise that all leaders ponder a few key questions when it comes to strategy. These insightful questions (IQs) are found below.
A good strategy does not need to be complicated.
IQ#1- Should I create the strategy myself?
The short answer is no. Don’t go it alone. Be sure to include members of your team, and other stakeholders when creating the strategy. It is rare that you will have enough insights and ideas to craft a winning strategy all by yourself. I call this the Moses coming down from the mountain approach. Don’t do it. There is one exception – when you are on a short deadline. Sometimes the situation is dire, the building is on fire, and you need to put it out. In this case, you need to crank out the strategy all by yourself. Otherwise, include others.
Avoid being Moses when crafting your strategy. Include others.
Strong leaders collaborate with stakeholders when crafting the strategy
Strong leaders ask insightful questions of others when crafting their strategy. Get the big brains in the room, and ask for their input. In my career, some of the best strategic ideas have come from junior members of the team. Don’t exclude them. They tend to bring a fresh perspective to the table. The higher up in the organization that you sit, the more stakeholders you will need to include. Plan accordingly.
Brainstorm with others when crafting your strategy.
IQ#2 – How do I know if I have a bad strategy?
One way to confirm if your strategy is good or not is to select metrics you will track when you implement. This approach enables you to tell if it is working, or not. For example, if you craft a discounted pricing strategy to increase your overall sales, you will be able to tell shortly after implementation if it is working. If it doesn’t work, consider it the wrong strategy, and move on to something else. Results count more than opinions, but it is important that you seek input before you implement.
Metrics help you track if the strategy is a good one.
Strong leaders get feedback about the strategy from their stakeholders
Leaders need to get feedback from their stakeholders. Just because you codified it doesn’t mean it is good. Ask insightful questions like do they understand your vision? Does the strategy make sense? What are their thoughts about implementing it? It is critical that you get inputs from others in order to build consensus and move your team forward. Getting buy-in from others is critical for success before you start executing.
Don’t expect all the feedback to be positive.
IQ#3 – What are the best ways to communicate my strategy to the team?
The third point to ponder is how you communicate your strategy to your team. My recommendation is that you walk them through it, and answer any questions they have. Don’t be surprised if you get several questions, even if you included many of them in the formulation phase. It will get real for your team the closer you get to execution. PowerPoint is the best tool I know to capture a strategy. Keep the slides to 10 or less. Anything longer is probably overly complicated and still needs work.
Make sure your team is bought into the strategy.
Strong leaders communicate their strategy consistently and creatively
It is the leader’s job to communicate consistently and creatively. Your team and other stakeholders will need to be reminded at times what the strategy is during execution, especially when they run into obstacles. Provide something creative to help stakeholders easily recall the main points. A slogan, acronym, or summary slick sheet are ways to communicate your strategy. I am a big fan of having a one-page summary that your team can carry around with them in case questions arise during implementation. If it feels a little like internal marketing. It is. The bolder the strategy the more important it is to leverage clever ways to consistently communicate it.
Amazon’s former CEO is known for insightful strategic sayings and slogans.
IQ#4 – Is it important to communicate the strategy to my boss? Why or why not?
The right answer is hell yes. This question seems like a no-brainer, yet I have seen this misstep made by leaders more times than I can count. It is vital that your boss understand and endorse your strategy. Otherwise, you risk huge missteps during execution. Case in point, the pricing strategy is an important component of any federal contracting proposal. If your team is taking an aggressive approach and the boss does not know, you will discover the disconnect when it comes time to get the approval for the bid. Hello, rework. Make sure you inform your boss and get her input. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until it is too late to find out that your boss does not concur with your strategy.
Keeping your boss informed is vital to success.
Take the time to ponder insightful questions
Strong leaders understand the importance of crafting a winning strategy. They ask insightful questions and collaborate with their stakeholders. They gather feedback and adjust accordingly. Strong leaders communicate the strategy consistently and make sure it is approved by their boss. Be that kind of leader.
However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.
Winston Churchill
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Last month I wrote about the fact that crafting a winning strategy is what strong leaders do. The next series of blogs will describe in more detail how to formulate your team’s strategy as a leader. This month we will begin with the basic concept.
A plan of action designed to achieve a major or overall aim.
Basic definition of strategy
Some leaders are clueless
Have you ever worked for a leader who does not know what a strategy is…really? No one trained him, and it showed. For example, I worked for one leader who had no clue. He knew it, I knew it, everyone knew it. The organization put this leader in charge of crafting the strategy we would use moving forward. He floundered, and we all watched while this leader struggled. He did not know what he was doing and never delivered. All his stakeholders were left in the dark wondering what was happening. Where were we going? As you might imagine – it was a painful experience for all of us and did not end well for this leader.
It is no fun working for a clueless leader.
The leader who replaced him was much better
Eventually, a new leader was put in place. This leader went to work right away crafting a strategy for the organization. She gathered a team to help define the strategy. She socialized it with her leadership team, received feedback, and made adjustments. A final product was delivered that was well-received by practically everyone. Trust was restored, a clear path forward was identified and performance improved rapidly as we began executing the new strategy. I watched in wonder as she turned around a bad situation in about 90 days. It was a pleasure working for a leader who knew what she was doing and inspired her followers.
In reality, strategy is actually very straightforward. You pick a general direction and implement it like hell.
Jack Welsh
A tool to help craft your strategy
As a leader, it is important that you understand what a strategy actually is. Some leaders struggle with thinking strategically because they do not really know what it means. You probably hear the word strategy a lot. I would offer that what many people are talking about when they say the word strategy is actually tactics, process, and procedures. This diagram found below is the best way I know to think about what a strategy is. It is simple to understand.
Use this simple diagram to formulate your strategy
When in doubt draw it out using this simple diagram. Starting on the left – we, that is you and your team, are here. It is important to define the current state – the blue circle with the red star. Describe what is going well with your team and what needs to change. On the right is the future state. You want to be there – the green circle. The strategy articulates how you are going to go from here to there – the arrow. Any strategy that does not include a how is not an actual strategy. I am going to say that again because I cannot count how many strategic briefings that were all fluff and no substance. In other words, there was no way to actually implement the strategy. Any strategy that does not include the how is not an actual strategy.
Simon Simek reminds us about the importance of the how.
An example of a strategy with no how in it
Years ago I worked for an organization that did not understand this topic. The business unit I worked in did not know how to articulate real strategic thinking. One year all we received from senior leadership was “grow the business”. The current state part of the business was only the revenue number we generated the last year, $100 million. The future state was another number – our target for the next year, $120 million. The strategy was we need to grow by $20 million, or 20%. No mention of how we would reach that number. Go and grow. Wow – talk about a strategy with no how in it. What happened next was predictable.
High growth strategies are not easy to implement.
The leadership team struggled to get everyone motivated
The go and grow strategy was not well received by the leadership team. Market conditions were changing – the next year would be much harder than the last year. The growth target was much larger than the previous one – twice as large. Leaders in the business unit wondered how in the world are we going to grow twice as fast in a tough market. No clear answers were provided by the senior leaders. The reality is that they did not know how we would do it. They were hoping for the best. The leadership team struggled to get everyone bought into the strategy and motivated to make it happen. As a result, we did not have a good year, we missed the target, and new leaders were brought in to fix the problem.
Getting buy-in from the team is critical for strategy success.
What about you?
Do you know how to craft a winning strategy? Have you taken the time to formulate, codify and communicate it to your stakeholders? If not, make the investment now. If so, you will enjoy the next few blogs. We are going to explore this topic in detail to include points to ponder, practical tactical tips, and lessons learned based on decades of experience.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Take a moment right now and think about a strong leader you know. Someone you truly enjoyed working for. Ask yourself a basic question about this leader. Does she know how to craft a winning strategy? I bet the answer is yes. Strong leaders win. Now think about a weak leader you know well. Someone you did not enjoy following. Ask yourself the same question. Did he select a winning strategy? Your answer probably changed to no. It is difficult to follow someone who does not know how to win. Losing sucks. It always has and always will.
Winning is a great feeling that your team wants to experience.
Strategy is a constant leadership challenge
Strong leaders think strategically on a regular basis. How will my team win today, tomorrow, and the next days after that? Having a winning strategy is a constant challenge that every leader faces. Trust me – your competition is thinking about ways to beat you and your team. You better do the same thing. It is easy to rest on your laurels and fall into the trap of focusing your time and energy as a leader on tactical execution. I call it the “keeping the trains running” mentality. Weak leaders keep their heads down, failing to look at the big picture and over the horizon. Don’t be that kind of leader. Being a strong leader is more important than ever these days.
Sometimes a leader needs to step back and look at the big picture.
It is a highly competitive marketplace, so strategy is important for success
The business world is a competitive place. I cannot think of many industries that are not highly competitive. If you want to win you better have a good strategy before your competition eats your lunch. I have written before about what happens when a leader does not have a good strategy. If some days it feels like you are in a brawl at work – it probably is because you are. Let’s face it – the COVID crisis made it even more important than ever to have a good strategy to not only win but simply survive in some industries. The whole world changed last year. Strong leaders recognized the need for new strategies to be successful in the post-pandemic world and are adjusting accordingly. While others are hoping that things will return to normal (whatever that means), and may not make it much longer.
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
Mike Tyson
Leaders are expected to provide the winning strategy for the team
Let’s pose a simple question – who is responsible for the strategy? Answer – the leader. Sure you are going to get help from others when crafting the strategy. But, if you are the leader, you need to own the strategy for your team. They will expect it, and you need to deliver. Think about it. Who will the team turn to when execution gets tough? The leader – of course. That is why you are there. Strong leaders understand that they are expected to provide the winning strategy for their team. Weak leaders delegate it to others, or simply hope for the best. And we all know by now that hope is not an effective strategy, especially in a competitive market.
You are the quarterback – call the play!
Picking a winning strategy may be challenging if you have many possible paths in front of you
My last point is somewhat counter-intuitive. I believe picking the best strategy is most difficult when you have many possible options. It is usually pretty easy to pick between two or three options. More than that then you should spend some time analyzing each option before selecting, but don’t take too long. The reason I mention this topic is that I have worked for leaders who were bad at strategy simply because they wasted precious time trying to pick the best path forward. We would spend days, weeks, and months thinking through the options and never commit fully to one. Meanwhile, our competitors selected their strategy and were busy executing it.
Don’t spend too much time selecting the strategy.
What about you? Do you have a winning strategy?
Are you crafting a winning strategy for your team? Do you spend time thinking strategically with your team on a regular basis? If not, then you have work to do. Don’t worry – All The Way Leadership! is here. The next series of blog posts will focus on strategy formulation.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Martin Luther King, Jr. is a personal hero of mine. I believe MLK is one of the greatest leaders America ever produced. His name belongs among other American titans like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ike Eisenhower. I admire MLK for many reasons. Here are five compelling reasons all people should admire him, and celebrate his life today.
1. MLK leveraged his strengths to the advantage of others
Martin Luther King, Jr. did not have much power at all as a leader. He was an African-American man living in the segregated south. Whites and blacks were not equal. He was not a wealthy man either. MLK did possess several strengths that he leveraged to the advantage of others. First and foremost, he was a man of deep faith. Trained as a Baptist minister after completing college, MLK’s based his world view on his Christian faith. He often quoted scripture when speaking and writing to justify the righteousness of the civil rights cause. Brilliant – preach the truth to the racists who claimed to be Christians. Little did they know at the time how foolish they look in retrospect.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
Proverbs 18:2
2. He fought the battle with ideas
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a smart man. He passed the entrance exam for Morehouse college at age 15. He graduated with a degree four years later. MLK completed seminary, earning a Master’s degree, and received his Ph.D. by age 26. Impressive academic credentials that would serve him well over the years. If you read his writings or listen to his speeches they are both inspirational and logical. It is hard to pull apart his positions or argue against them. Many tried – most failed. MLK decided to fight his battles with ideas and non-violence. Genius move on his part. His enemies, critics, and antagonists were not sure how to respond. They did not realize that he fought from higher ground and held the advantage. Rather than the other way around.
3. MLK learned big ideas from others
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Christian, and he was willing to learn from others. His non-violent approach to the civil rights struggle was rooted in his faith and modeled after Gandhi’s actions when battling the British empire. According to a trusted internet source, from the early days of the Montgomery bus boycott Martin Luther King, Jr., referred to India’s Mahatma Gandhi as “the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change”. MLK realized the odds were stacked against him. He decided to learn from another leader who faced a similar situation and won. Ingenious idea – it worked. In the end, both were victorious.
4. He spoke with clarity and purpose
Martin Luther King, Jr., is arguably one of the greatest orators in American history. When MLK spoke, he inspired others to action. The words he said, the ideas he offered still reverberate across the world today. He was clear and spoke with purpose. It is a divine talent that few possess. The ability to find the exact right words to say at the precise moment they are needed. Imagine for a moment the pressure MLK must have felt as he stood before hundreds of thousands on the National Mall. The “I have a dream speech” he gave that day is considered to be one of the best speeches ever. Right up there with Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. Every time I hear MLK’s speech I am inspired to be a better person and dream of the world he described.
One of the best speeches in American history.
5. MLK chose the harder path
Martin Luther King, Jr. paid the ultimate price for the civil rights cause. He was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. What a tragic loss for America, and the world. His early death is strikingly similar to President Lincoln’s. Both gunned down by madmen. Both decided to take the harder path and paid the price. Lincoln and MLK both took America to a new mountaintop, a better place. I am grateful for both of them. I especially admire MLK’s decision to take the high road, the harder path. His life greatly impacted mine. I was born only a few short months before he died, and I cannot imagine what the world would be like without him. I am reminded of his impact every time I hear the song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” by U2. A song they wrote in tribute to him.
We still have a long way to climb
America and the rest of the world still have a long way to go when it comes to equality and civil rights. In fact, I think one could argue that we have taken a few steps backward this past decade, especially the last year. That needs to change. Let’s move forward to the next mountaintop. To go backward would sully the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. A man worth admiring for many reasons.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders like MLK. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Recently I was asked at work to share my perspective as a veteran. The presentation I gave described the most important lesson I learned serving with paratroopers. It received a fair amount of positive feedback. Therefore, I thought it would be useful to share the content here.
This video includes the presentation I gave at work.
My family is full of paratroopers
I spent over a decade serving as an Officer in the US Army. I learned a lot in the Army, especially during my first tour with the 82nd Airborne Division. The division was created in World War I. It is a famous unit with a storied history. It also has a special place in my family’s heritage. My father served in the 82nd Airborne after graduating from West Point. It was his first duty assignment as an Infantry Officer. He reported to Fort Bragg in 1956.
My father served multiple tours at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
I followed in my father’s footsteps
Many years later I followed in my father’s footsteps. I joined the 82nd in 1991 as an Infantry Officer. My first assignment was as a rifle platoon leader in Bravo Company, 1/325 Airborne Infantry Regiment. After that role, I transferred to the Signal Corps and joined the 82nd Signal Battalion. I served as a Signal Node Platoon Leader and Division Assault Command Post Platoon Leader. Yes – I was a platoon leader three different times. I finished my time at Bragg as a Company Executive Officer.
Photo from my promotion ceremony circa 1994.
Leaders jump first, then other paratroopers follow
Lesson one – leaders go out the door first. The 82nd has a unique culture, full of traditions that have been created over the years. One tradition regarding their leaders is that they jump first during airborne operations. This tradition started back in WWII. What does that mean – leaders jump first. The most senior leader of any airborne operation will go out the door first, before anyone else. For example, if the Commander of the 82d (a two-star general) is part of a jump, he will jump first followed by the rest of the paratroopers.
Leaders jump first to show their commitment to the mission.
This tradition dates back to World War II
During WWII legendary commanders like Matthew Ridgway and James Gavin jumped and fought alongside their paratroopers. No cushy office for them. This act is not one of privilege, but rather of leadership in action. This tradition visibly shows all the paratroopers in the plane that you are willing to lead them by going first. The 82nd expects danger when they jump into combat. Its leaders are expected to face this danger first. This tradition demonstrates that the leaders are willing to do what they are asking their followers to do. It is a powerful way to show others that I am with you and fully committed, just like you.
General James Gavin getting ready to jump before Normandy.
A personal example of this lesson from my time with paratroopers
I learned this lesson firsthand while serving as the Division Assault CP Platoon Leader. My platoon’s mission was to support the Division Command Group with communications capabilities. We jumped in the radio equipment that the Division Commander and other senior leaders used on the drop zone during airborne operations. Many times we jumped from the same plane as the Commander. He would go out the door first, followed by his Aide, and then members of my platoon. For larger airborne operations that involved many planes, my platoon would be split into small groups and jump from several different aircraft. We would be one of the first to leave the plane so that we could land near the command group members.
Mike Steele – 82nd Airborne Division Commander that I supported. Great man. He served with my father in Vietnam.
Jumping into Puerto Rico was an adventure
I remember one mission where jumping first was somewhat troubling to me. For this operation, we were jumping into Puerto Rico. The drop zone was not big so we jumped from C-130s. The Division Commander was on the first airplane. I was on the second plane and would be the first jumper from that aircraft. Everything en route went fine. As we approached Puerto Rico, the Jumpmaster gave me the command to “stand in the door”. That means I am positioned in the door, waiting for the jump light to turn green. When it does, you jump.
A paratrooper jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
Waiting can feel like an eternity
Usually, you stand in the door for less than 30 seconds. As you stand in the door of a C-130 you can see out of the aircraft. When I looked out I noticed a potential problem – all water, no land. I am a good swimmer, but I certainly did not want to experience a water landing. I peered at the jump light – it was still red. Thank God. I watched and waited, hoping that the light would not turn green until we were over land. I kept waiting for what seemed like an eternity.
Jumping at night can be particularly frightening.
Paratroopers jump when the light finally turns green
Eventually, I saw the land, then the drop zone, and finally the green light. I jumped, followed by my fellow paratroopers. What I learned later was that the jumpmasters decided to put the first jumpers in the door earlier than normal because there was real concern that all the jumpers would not be able to exit the aircraft in time. After all, the drop zone was so small. They did not want any paratrooper to miss the drop zone and have to ride back to Fort Bragg.
82nd paratroopers jump from C-130 Hercules aircraft during a mass-tactical airborne training exercise which included over a thousand paratroopers. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod)
Reflecting on the lesson I learned during this operation
After the operation was complete I thought to myself what would have happened if the light had turned green while we were still over water. I knew the answer – I would have jumped. I would have done what paratroopers have been trained to do for decades. The light turns green, and then you jump. I could not turn to the paratrooper behind me and say why don’t you go first, it looks kind of dangerous with all that water.
Jumping into an airfield can also be dangerous – lots of pavement.
Leading from the rear is not an option
No – I had been trained as a leader in the 82d that you jump first, and deal with whatever happens next. You lead from the front, not from the rear. That lesson has served me well in many other situations. Sometimes when I find myself in a somewhat scary situation I think of my days in the 82nd, and what it taught me as a leader. You go out the door first.
The reality is that the only way change comes is when you lead by example.
Anne Wojcicki
Are you ready to go out the door first?
What about you? Are you ready to go out the door first? Are you fully committed to the mission of the team you lead? I hope so. If you are committed and competent others will follow you. If for no other reason than to see what happens. Not that kind of leader? Don’t be surprised if your team members are reluctant to follow you. None of us like working for someone who does not lead by example. Don’t be that guy. Instead, be the kind of leader who goes out the door first.
The place for a general in battle is where he can see the battle and get the odor of it in his nostrils. There is no substitute for the general being seen.
General James Gavin, 82nd Airborne Division Commander during WWII
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
I looked over at my dad to check on him and noticed he was crying. It is not often that my father was moved to tears. He usually did not cry on veterans day. My dad, my sons called him Opa, was one of the toughest people I ever knew. He had a big heart. He cried when family members pass away. My dad almost cried when the Nationals won the world series. I have to confess that I was close to tears as well that day.
My dad in front of the WWII memorial in Washington DC.
Veteran’s Day 2017 was a special one
My brother and I had the privilege of escorting my dad to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC. Opa participated in a ceremony with his 1956 West Point classmates. Each year those who are still here gather at the wall to honor one of their classmates who perished during the war. They read the names of the fallen, share the story of one in detail, and then walk down to where the name of that person is etched on the wall to place a wreath.
My father in front of the Vietnam War memorial.
Family members of the fallen participate
It is a simple ceremony – nothing fancy. No long speeches, no politicians, no fanfare. Just a small group of veterans honoring one of their own. It was one of the most powerful Veteran’s Day events I have ever witnessed. I can understand why my dad cried during the ceremony. I teared up more than once while there. Below are some pictures from that special day.
Kicking off the informal ceremony for the USMA class of 1956.
Visiting the wall is difficult for many veterans like my dad
I am really glad that Opa was brave and decided to participate in the ceremony. He usually didn’t. My dad is a Vietnam veteran. He served three tough tours there. He lost a lot of friends in the war. Visiting the wall was a draining event for him. It was an emotional one. The wall reminded him of the war, battles fought, lives lost, and the complicated aftermath.
My brother and Dad read names on the wall.
Many veterans thrived after Vietnam
Fortunately, my father was able to return to the states and live a healthy and productive life after the war. My brother and I are the direct beneficiaries of my dad’s ability to put the war behind him and fulfill the American dream – to provide for your children so that they have an even better life than the one you lived. I have the same dream for my children and will do all that I can to make that happen. I want them to have a better life than mine. The reason veterans fight is for a better tomorrow.
Several of my dad’s classmates went on to be generals.
Veteran’s Day is for telling stories
My dad was a generous person and was always willing to help others in need. I experienced this first hand as his son and witnessed it as he interacted with others. I saw another example of it during this ceremony. After we walked down to the wall Opa called over one of the family members who attended. He was the grown son of a fallen classmate. He is probably my age, or maybe even a little bit older. My dad let this family member know that he was good friends with his father many years ago. Opa shared a funny story that the man had never heard before.
Veteran’s catching up and telling stories.
Veteran’s know stories that family members need to hear
Dad proceeded to tell this son of his fallen classmate about his father. What his dad was like as a man. How he was a strong, smart, and brave soldier. Opa thought the world of his classmate and was very sad when he learned about the untimely death of his good friend. My father was emotional – his eyes welled up with tears. Fond memories mixed with painful blasts from the past. It was a difficult thing for my dad to do, but he did it anyway. Opa gave this man a special gift that morning. The gift of knowing that his own dad was a great soldier. Afterward, the man thanked Opa for his service, and more importantly for letting him know about his father.
Opa telling a story to the son of a fallen classmate – the gift of memories.
Thank you to all veterans
It is impossible to calculate the toll war takes on a nation, especially its veterans. So it is important that we honor those who have served. The brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. They deserve our respect and gratitude. My father is from a generation that fought an unpopular war, in an unknown part of the world, for reasons that are still somewhat of a mystery to this day. It was tough, but he and his generation did their part.
From this day to the end of time, without our being remembered: we few, we happy few, we band of brothers—for whoever sheds his blood with me today shall be my brother. However humble his birth, this day shall grant him nobility.
Henry V by William Shakespeare
Today’s veterans deserve our thanks
Nowadays our country remains entangled in a long war that has cost our nation dearly. Today’s veterans face many of the same challenges that my dad and his classmates did many years ago. One day many years from now they too will gather together and talk about the wars they fought. As for you – do your part. If you see any veterans – thank them for their service. They deserve it, just like my dad.
More stories about fellow veterans.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
Wow – the COVID crisis continues with no clear end in sight. I am spending more time in the office these days, but that may soon come to an end if the number of COVID cases continues to rise. I will likely be spending even more hours on video calls, like many leaders. Today I am going to talk about the worst mistake that a leader can make on a video call. Don’t do this.
COVID cases are on the rise again.
No – it is not the mute button
Some of you think I am going to say that misusing the mute button is the worst mistake you can make as a leader during a video call. Talking while on mute is a mistake, but it is really not a big deal. All you have to do is come off mute and repeat what you said while muted. Saying something stupid without the mute button on can be bad, really bad. But, I believe most leaders are smarter than that and will not fall into that trap.
Use the mute button when not talking.
The most common major mistake leaders make on video calls
Looking bad on camera is the worst mistake you can make as a leader during a video call. Like many of you, I have participated in hundreds of video calls this year. I am amazed at how many leaders show up on the call looking bad, really bad in some cases. It makes me wonder if they thought at all about what others would see when they turned on their camera. I believe is it better to keep your camera off than it is to show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. Your team deserves better than that. There are several problems that cause a leader to look bad on camera.
Yes – wear pants during your video calls.
Problem #1 – Awkward camera angles
Let’s start with your camera. Have you positioned it well? Or does your team get to experience seeing you at awkward angles? Below is a short list of the most common camera angles mistakes:
Too far away – you look tiny in the frame.
Way too close – everyone gets to see all the wrinkles on your face.
Too low – your team gets to see if you groomed your nostrils.
Not centered – you are in the frame, but nowhere near the center.
Side angle – people prefer to see your face, not the side of your head.
This video goes much deeper about this topic.
Problem #2 – Distracting background
Besides your smiling face, what else does your team get to see during your video calls? What kind of background is behind you that will show up on camera? I highly recommend you use a custom background if you can. Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams allow you to do this. This functionality not only looks better, but it also hides what is going on behind you. Trust me – this cloaking can prevent gaffes if someone shows up unexpectedly behind you. If you cannot use a custom background spend a little time making sure that your home office is not distracting to others. I am not an interior decorator, so I don’t have an expert opinion. In general, less seems better to me. Yes – it is okay to select a custom background that matches who you are.
I use a UVA background some days since it is my alma mater.
Problem #3 – Improper lighting
Lighting can be tricky. Too much light and you look like a ghost. Not enough light and no one can see you. I recommend investing some time and money into configuring your office so that the lighting works well for you. I actually invested in a ring light kit. It costs less than $100. I felt a little silly when I bought it, but I thought it was worth trying out. It makes a big difference. I use the light for all my video calls that I take from home nowadays. It works really well and is both portable and adjustable.
I use this lighting system for my video calls.
Problem #4 – Poor audio quality
It is completely annoying when you cannot hear clearly what someone is saying during a video call. Poor audio quality is usually due to a bad connection or lackluster equipment. Once again, I recommend spending a little money to make sure your audio quality is good. I am a big fan of using headphones for video calls. I bought a Bose pair of noise-canceling headphones that I wear for all my calls. They were expensive but well worth the investment. A good microphone will also do the trick.
These headphones work well for my video calls.
Problem #5 – Improper choice of attire
I am not here to be your fashion advisor. Rather I recommend that you show up on your video calls dressed appropriately for the setting, and in line with your organization’s culture. Of course, what is appropriate will vary greatly. When in doubt be conservative. If you want to be taken seriously dress the part – don’t show up in a hoodie and baseball cap. For heaven’s sake – don’t show up in a robe or your pajamas to a business call. Remember – your customers will get a visual impression based on how you dress. I have been surprised by how informal some people are on camera. Lastly, I recommend you dress your age. No one wants to see someone like me trying to act like I am back in my 20s.
This article includes some good tips regarding attire for calls.
Fix this mistake before worrying about others
Sure – there are many other problems a leader may experience on a video call. Those don’t matter much until after you tackle this one. Trust me – no one will remember if you accidentally talked while on mute. But, they will remember if you showed up looking bad, wondering what in the world happened to you that day. Avoid making this easily fixed mistake.
First impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes.
Elliott Abrams
What about you?
How are you showing up on camera these days? If you are looking good – keep it up. If not, do the work required. I know it sounds trivial. However, it is worth investing a little time to show up strong. After all, you used to do this every day before COVID when we worked in offices. Why stop now? Remember the camera captures everything, and so will your team members.
Dress the part – don’t be too informal.
ATW! is designed to make you a better leader
I hope you join me on this journey to raise up the next generation of leaders. The world is in desperate need of more great leaders. Women and men who lead with confidence, clarity, and creativity. It’s time to become the leader that your world needs. Let’s go All The Way!
