[December 24, 2015] Today is Christmas Eve and a very special time for Christians around the world as one of the most significant cultural celebrations in Christendom. My wife has made sure that we are fully prepared by starting her baking days beforehand. Like her, leaders are prepared.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
To write that leaders are prepared is easy and would seem to be self evident and obviously a simple concept. However, it is common that leaders fail to properly prepare themselves, not just on difficult matters but on mundane stuff as well.
When I was a new Infantry Platoon Leader, I once did not refuel my Armored Personnel Carriers; it was peacetime and to me a minor issue. I wanted to save some time but my commander had some nasty words to say to me about it and I never failed to refuel again. It was seemingly small stuff but I didn’t realize its overall importance to good field craft.
In the military nothing is small stuff. Everything matters because it fits into a bigger picture; a picture we often don’t see. My view of things as a young Lieutenant fresh out of school did not have the wisdom of those my senior. They’d suffered personal losses during the Vietnam War because of small things that failed to get done and they were resolute that they would pass along those hard-won lessons of war.
Being prepared is more than just doing your job at work. It also means being aware of your surroundings wherever you go; whether to a mall to shop for Christmas, to a place of worship, or to cross the street. Anything can happen at a moment’s notice and we need to be prepared to act. This is our reality today when terrorism is everywhere and no one is completely safe.
Reality sometimes intrudes upon us. Henrik Ibsen once said that “a community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.” His comments remind me of leadership. As leaders we should be looking within ourselves to see if we could “take the helm” if ever the circumstances demanded it.
Leaders are prepared … are you?
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