Over the course of Thanksgiving Weekend, I had the chance to watch some of the HBO series Band of Brothers. Not only does this series show the most amazing showmanship of courage and honor, but it also teaches us respect and leadership. Sadly, in the time we live in, the idea of honor/respect is, tragically, dissipating … dying.

Anyway, as I watched the series, there was a scene where 2nd Lt. Carwood Lipton was commenting on 1st Lieutenant Norman Dike – and his leadership.    (You see, 1st Lt. Norman Dike was in charge, someone, who was higher in rank, put him there to build his front-line experience.) The problem was, he was NEVER around; he would be gone for hours on end, and when a battle occurred, he would stay in his foxhole the entire time. (Hence his name “Foxhole Norman”).  Second Lt. Carwood Lipton said, “Lt. Dike wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions, he was a bad leader because he made no decisions”.

As soon as I heard that – it struck me: there are now two leadership facets you have to battle. The first – being a leader who makes poor decisions constantly, but, because of your job position, you remain the leader. The second battle, is being a leader strictly by title, because there is nothing worse than trying to follow someone who makes NO decisions. That, my friend, is the scariest leader!

I would rather be a leader who made poor decisions – but learned from them, than a leader who made no decisions at all.  However, the question remains – “Are you a leader who will be able to think on his feet in the heat of the moment, or will you “freeze” and choose to do nothing?

Reflect back on the past events, peaks of your job, and evaluate yourself – “Did  you make good choices, poor choices, or no choices”.