So Much to Be Bullish About - We Have People, After All

Imagine being put into a battle with fewer weapons than your opponent. Imagine that you had many fewer soldiers than your opponent had. And imagine that your soldiers were less nourished than your opponent's men were. And they were more weary and worn down.

You'd feel like you were at a big disadvantage, right?

Well, this is the situation that British King Henry V found himself in during the famous battle of Agincourt in 1415. And King Henry and his small band of tired and battered men won. Against the odds. (Actor Kenneth Branaugh did a great film version of Shakespeare's play Henry V here - highly recommended for all leaders).

Remembering this historic battle and the role that leadership and tenacity played in the vistory is just ONE reason I feel bullish about things - even though the times are tough and every day there are more reasons to doubt our ability to succeed.

What King Henry had, and what all leaders have, is a team of people. And people are magical and miraculous things. They can do great things against all odds, and they can generate a future you can't even imagine.

Sure, people lose battles, too. But with the right leadership. The right partnership, the right engagement, the right calling - and just a bit of luck - anything is possible.

These are times that will define great managers and leaders. You will need to be great to succeed and you will need to be able to tap into the hearts and minds of your team - you will need to be Henry-like with your ability to inspire and model. King Henry fought right along with his men, and you will need to do this, too - get into the trenches with your talented team members and muck it up with them.

But this is why we do this work, isn't it? We did not become managers and leaders so that we could coast by during easy times. We became managers and leaders because deep down inside we want to make unlikely things happen.

Yes, there is so much to be bullish about. People are the secret weapon - they are our advantage. Our teams are the answer. Anything is possible and this is our time to shine as our team's leader - to show our organizations what we can do - how we trap into the greatness of our team members.

It is time to lead forward and into the darkness through to the light.

Comments

[Wally Bock]

Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.

http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2009/03/11/31109-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx

Wally Bock

[lisa haneberg]

Thanks for sharing the post, Wally!