[March 12, 2021] Be a steadying presence. Leaders set the tone. If the leader is excited, then the team will be excited. If the leader is angry, the team will be angry. If the leader has a constant calm and steadying presence, the team will succeed in the most challenging situations.
It is harder in practice than it is in the writing of these words. Still, I also know that an excitable team leader can unnecessarily spin their organization and cause unexpected poor effects. This is why we say the best leaders ‘lead by example.’ True enough, but not because people replicate a leader’s behavior but for the reason that a good leader steadies the ship.
“Slow but steady wins the race.” – Aesop
Ancient Greek storyteller and fabulist Aesop tell us that consistency and a positive attitude are the elements of winning. These are the essential ingredients for any leader to ensure his team is a success. To do so means being present at the decisive point of action.
For example, Rudy Giuliani, mayor of New York City on September 11, 2001, was going about his business of cleaning up crime in his town when two hijacked airliners slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Giuliani was highly visible in the aftermath of the Islamic terrorist attack on his city. He made frequent appearances on radio and television. He was personally involved in the citywide and federal response. Giuliani’s presence was a steadying influence on the people of New York City and the nation.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the U.S., began radio broadcasts (“fireside chats”) beginning this date March 12th in 1933, at the lowest point in the Great Depression. He began that first address by saying, “I want to talk a few minutes with the people of the United States about banking.”
FDR explained why he closed the nation’s banks to stop a surge in mass withdrawals by panicked investors worried about bank failures. His radio broadcasts were designed to ease fears and inspire confidence in his leadership. President Roosevelt would again show his steadying influence shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor a few years later.
A steadying presence is the epitome of outstanding leadership. Many examples come from the influence of military leaders during pivotal times in combat. The British Field Marshall Arthur Wellesley at the Battle of Waterloo, American General George Patton at the Battle of the Bulge, and U.S. Marine General Oliver Smith at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.
In times of crisis, or not, leaders must be present and active. They must communicate clearly and briefly. Those who are prone to panic will fail their team. Thus, we recognize the steadying presence of a leader in a heroic role, one role that is essential.
Excellent examples presented in this article. That is always the best way to help get your points across. I would hope you might consider another post of this same subject. You could take the idea further and take more questions. Just a thought, Gen. Satterfield.
Hi Gen. Satterfield, very good article worth close consideration. More like this article are fine with me. I often send these to my boss at work. He likes your website as well.
Good point, Audrey. 👍
Spot on examples, Gen. Satterfield. There are many many more, naturally that have no space to spell our in a short article. Maybe a link to them would be helpful. Or, I could not be lazy and find them myself. Ah, just kidding, great article to pay close attention to.
“Those who are prone to panic will fail their team. ”
Best quote of the article. Commonsense? Nope, not in this PC world.
You got that right rnsmithers. Today, we have those who are least productive and counterproductive (like BLM and antifa) and other groups that get the attention of government because it is “the right thing to do.” Of course, those govt wannabe types have no clue what this means. It means we are headed downward when the inmates are running the asylym.
Well said. In the USA, the inmates are in charge and some of them don’t even know where they are or what day it is. That would be US president Joe “china” Biden. Oh, did I actually write that. Of course, my moniker is not my real name so if the FBI comes after me, they will have a hard time figuring out who I am. I don’t have any influence – note to FBI officer reading my post – so go elsewhere and arrest some guy burning down buildings, looting, storming state govt offices, murdering people, etc. Ah, but you won’t, you will pick on a conservative. Wake up FBI.
Ouch, tell us what you think Janna. Yes, I agree, the FBI is fully corrupt. Pres Trump couldn’t clean it up in four years, so imagine how bad they are.
Ancient Greek storyteller and fabulist Aesop, now there is some real inspiration there. This guy must have been really creative to come up with fables that mimic those hard-won lessons on how to be a good person in your family/community.
Yes, very well written, Gen. Satterfield. If a leader does not create the atmosphere of his steadying the ship, so to speak, the ship may go down during high seas. That is part of the reason we see socialists (read that as neo-Marxists) who can do well in capitalistic societies (things are going well) but they fail when there is an economic downturn. Socialist ideology is based on leeching off the productive members of society and raising up those who cannot produce. That is why so many Communist nations cannot excel at creative production.
Thanks Max, not sure exactly what you are getting at but most of this makes sense. Sorry, just the way I’m reading your comment.
Excellent. I believe you hit the real leader trait right on the spot. A great leader is like a rock in a river, unmoving against the current.
Best analogy! Like the warrior king … steady and unyielding in battle.
Well said, old warrior and Army captain. Using analogies here is spot on because it gives us a visual of what a steadying presence would be. The examples given by Gen. Satterfield are also spot on, as well.
Good one, old warrior. Hey thanks. I think this is your first post that you didn’t talk about kicking someone’s butt for their stupidity. But, hey, people are getting ‘stupider”, at least according to some scientists. Read the Daily Favorites articles from today on this leadership website. Is there a link there?
Great comment. 😊