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