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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Business Council of Alabama, Governmental Affairs and General Stan McChrystal on Leadership

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. This proverb which is credited to Thomas Reid in the 18th century is echoed again in the lecture on Leadership given by General Stan McChrystal at the recent Governmental Affairs conference weekend sponsored by the Business Council of Alabama. General McChrystal calls it Plywood Leadership. Referencing his team in combat, he discusses that like plywood, each man or woman is not that unique, but together as a team they are like the plywood used to build just about anything. Plywood, like his combat team, is quick to build with, agile to change, easy to fit to a need and focused on a purpose.


One thing is certainly true about our BCA leaders, they always create a strong venue for introspection for our government leadership at this conference and this year was no exception. With leadership from both sides of the political aisle present, as well as multiple Chambers of Commerce, the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Business Council of Alabama leadership in attendance, this meeting has for me been both insightful and motivating as I seek to learn more about what “good really looks like” in terms of civic, political and community leadership.

As the former Commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan

General McChrystal has received wide praise for creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations. A four-star general, he is the former leader of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) which oversees the military’s most sensitive forces.

As the key note speaker for this event, McChrystal began by quickly connecting with our Alabama pulse. He commented on the importance of a Right To Work state, which Alabama is, taking ownership and responsibility for appropriately training the work force and the leadership that is needed to get you there. But taking the thought further, he emphasized not just the value of Leadership, but the real role of leaders at the heart of that leadership. “We all look to leaders, we all believe in our leaders, but what type of leader do I want to be?” he challenged. Whether at a personal level at home, in your business or if running a country, the organization will be what the leader makes of it. He reminded the group that winning is not an accident, and you will not win just because you have “right” on your side. Taking risk as a leader does not guarantee success, and with his military experience near at hand, I trust he knows this to be true and real.

He reminds us to “listen to our team.” Why? Because that is where your success will rise from of course. You will succeed or fail based on the people with which you surround yourself. It isn’t just how the leader responds, but how the goal and directives are communicated to the team that will execute the plan that matters the most. How does the team feel about the challenge? Do they have enough information to execute the plan? What do you LOSE by not sharing information and communicating at all levels? You may in fact lose more than you expect. In my world growing up as an Army Brat, we called it “winning the battle” but losing the war. The message here is don’t give up the long term goal for some insignificant short term win that satisfies a personal need for ego, status, prestige, money or glory. You may walk away with that, but nothing else, and in business where is the win in that?

According to McChrystal leaders are relentless in their focus. They are fearless and welcome the new experience. A leader does not fear change. A leader builds trust. A leader communicates goal and intent, not individual decisions. Ask yourself this: Am I surrounded by a leadership team that will carry on without me because they know what their job is and what the goal is? Or am I surrounded by minions waiting for their next directive because they can’t think or act alone? Ask yourself: Who would I turn my back on?

As you move into your week this week, spend some time thinking on your own leadership. Who do you follow? Who follows you? In fact, according to McChrystal, the purpose of the leader is to solve problems, and to do so with humility. A leader will recognize that change is difficult, but change anyway. A leader knows at his or her core that leadership is a human problem, not one of tasks.

Uncommon times need uncommon leadership, and I learned a great deal listening to the General. How often do you hear a leader speak of morale and purpose? He asked: Where is your soul? A team needs a leader that will create not just a relationship but a creed, not just a belief, but a purpose.