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Leadership and the Fog of War

The fog of war. One of the most difficult challenges a leader faces is making difficult choices in uncertain times. Never are the stakes higher than during wartime. When to escalate and when to turn down the pressure cooker. Class, now known as “Company” 49, got a lesson today in dealing in uncertainty from Bruce Rice, a licensed battlefield guide and the unofficial “Gettysburg Guru”.

It’s said that the first casualty of war is your plan. Rarely do we jump into situations without an idea of how to get to a result. What’s important is to keep the end goal in mind, and live in the moment, don’t get bogged down with the minutia.

We heard today about two contrasts in leadership – from the Union side, Maj.-Gen. Winfield Hancock and Maj.-Gen. Oliver Howard. Hancock is ordered into Gettysburg to relieve Howard, even though Howard outranks him. Hancock is concerned, rightly, about Howard’s ego being bruised by this situation. Rather than creating a public confrontation, Hancock takes Howard aside, compliments him on the defensive position his men have created and defuses the situation. They kept the end goal, winning the battle, and war, in mind. In today’s world, the notion of the “compliment sandwich” was put into motion.

Contrast that with the Confederate example – Maj. Gen. Isaac Trimble and Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell. Ewell has received unclear orders from his superior and is overwhelmed. Trimble comes into the battle without a command and has a great suggestion, pressing the Confederate advantage to take Culp’s Hill. The fog is overwhelming Ewell. Instead of surveying the moment and coming in calmly with a tangible solution, Trimble is in Ewell’s face, escalating a fraught situation. The hill remained with the Union and an opportunity was lost.

After the teachings on the battlefield, we ventured back to discuss the different styles of leadership of Presidents throughout the years during times of turmoil. The staggering differences of the leaders of the free world rang true in these essential speeches throughout the years with the underlying theme of unifying the country for the greater good.

The Civil War was such a pivotal point in American history and without the leadership capabilities and perseverance of these men, we would not be where we are today!

Company 49 galloped away with some great lessons for life and leadership: 

Be focused on the result 

Press your advantage 

Be present 

 Listen to understand, not to respond

Yours Truly, 

Steve Dodge (not pictured: Taylor Serres and Daniel Hartwig)