| When the mood in our workplace, at home, or | | | | the sailor had spent bending over a long |
| in society in general is subdued, the value | | | | wooden table in the bottom of the ship, |
| of great leaders becomes apparent. | | | | carefully folding the silks and weaving the |
| | | | shrouds of each chute, each time holding in |
| How often have you seen individuals who have | | | | his hands the fate of someone he didn't know. |
| been promoted from one level to the next and | | | | |
| the next and the next based on need and some | | | | Plumb then began to realize that along with |
| extraordinary skills become insecure, | | | | the physical parachute, he needed mental, |
| controlling, stressed out and | | | | emotional and spiritual parachutes. He had |
| un-approachable, especially when their | | | | called on all these supports during his long |
| leadership is most needed? | | | | and painful ordeal. |
| | | | |
| How often have you lived through situations | | | | As a leader, how many times a day, a week, a |
| where decisions are being announced without a | | | | month, do we pass up the opportunity to thank |
| detailed explanation or reason why? | | | | those people in our organization who are |
| | | | "packing our parachutes"? |
| Have you been craving for leaders who are | | | | |
| authentic, well balanced between factual | | | | I can relate to this story, not only because |
| knowledge and emotional intelligence? | | | | I was a military jet aviator myself and have |
| | | | been with the guys who packed my parachute. I |
| Leading from the core is one of those traits | | | | also relate to it because this core from |
| that take a lot of development tobecome good | | | | which true, successful leadership comes from |
| at. To get into the right frame of mind, here | | | | is a core of empathy, caring, praise, |
| is a little story I received today from Tom | | | | character, and appreciation. |
| Mathews: | | | | |
| | | | To develop these traits and live them |
| As a leader, do you honor and appreciate the | | | | everyday in every situation, no matter how |
| power of WE? Do you stop to thank and | | | | bad the problem, how bad the economy, how bad |
| recognize the members of your team? Do you | | | | the sales, and how bad the approaching |
| consistently show an attitude of gratitude? | | | | recession, a certain attitude is required. |
| | | | |
| I recently read a great story about Captain | | | | This attitude assumes that every person is |
| Charles Plumb, a graduate from the Naval | | | | good, trying as hard as he or she can, and is |
| Academy, whose plane, after 74 successful | | | | willing to improve, given the proper |
| combat missions over North Vietnam, was shot | | | | guidance. As the leader we want to be this |
| down. He parachuted to safety, but was | | | | guide who provides support, creates the |
| captured, tortured and spent 2,103 days in a | | | | environment to excel, and is willing to take |
| small box-like cell. | | | | the blame and responsibility when things |
| | | | don't work out as we had planned. That is |
| After surviving the ordeal, Captain Plumb | | | | distinctly different from a manager who takes |
| received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the | | | | a leaders' vision and strategy and converts |
| Legion of Merit and two Purple Hearts, and | | | | it into processes, policies, directives, and |
| returned to America and spoke to many groups | | | | rules. |
| about his experience and how it compared to | | | | |
| the challenges of every day life. | | | | If you like to learn more about the |
| | | | development of this core, I recommend Henry |
| Shortly after coming home, Charlie and his | | | | Cloud's book 'Integrity', Jim Collins 'Good |
| wife were sitting in a restaurant. A man rose | | | | to Great', Richard Boyartzis 'Resonant |
| from a nearby table, walked over and said, | | | | Leadership', and John Kotter's 'Our Iceberg |
| "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in | | | | is melting'. If you learn better with a |
| Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. | | | | story, you might want to start with Steve |
| You were shot down!" | | | | Farber's 'Radical Leap'. |
| | | | |
| Surprised that he was recognized, Charlie | | | | In any case, ask yourself what you can do to |
| responded, "How in the world did you know | | | | develop a positive, resonating, caring core |
| that?" The man replied, "I packed your | | | | from which you operate, help other people |
| parachute." Charlie looked up with surprise. | | | | succeed, and conduct your daily life. As you |
| The man pumped his hand, gave a thumbs-up, | | | | develop this core, you will enable yourself |
| and said, "I guess it worked!" | | | | and those around you to come through |
| | | | adversity, recession, health issues, and the |
| Charlie stood to shake the man's hand, and | | | | challenges of living and working with others |
| assured him, "It most certainly did work. If | | | | with flying colors. |
| it had not worked, I would not be here | | | | |
| today." | | | | Don't forget, they are packing your parachute |
| | | | - so you better treat them well and |
| Charlie could not sleep that night, thinking | | | | appreciate their focus and accuracy, so you |
| about the man. He wondered if he might have | | | | will live another day and have a chance to be |
| seen him and not even said, "Good morning, | | | | the beacon they require for direction in |
| how are you?" He thought of the many hours | | | | life. |