I have always been, shall we say, non-political, non-religious and non-confrontational in my posts so as to not offend. I have been tagged a few times in my career for just the opposite. They are in my mind at this present time. However, today is different and there still is a non-secular, managerial lesson to learn. As many of you know I live in Colorado, a great state. We have a radio personality in an AM morning news team who takes great effort to acknowledge and work with what has been called the “Greatest Generation”. These are the men and woman who served in World War Two. Roughly 16 million served with about half a million who lost their lives in the service of their country. This personality was involved with a group of about 200 Pearl Harbor survivors in a return visit to “Pearl”. Oh yeah speaking of Colorado, the Secretary of the Interior was slated to speak. Yeah didn’t show and, uh, he is from Colorado. Another issue for another time. The culmination of the event in many ways was a visit to and included a rose-laying ceremony in what is known as the Punchbowl. The Punchbowl is the final resting place for about 33,000 from our last four wars starting with World War Two. In fact those who fell during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 were originally interned on a beach in Hawaii. So as it is, at the same time, a national broadcasting company showed up to film scenes for their series and showed incredible disrespect while they were there and in the aftermath of that same event. For instance, their disregard for taps; a very, very respectful moment for those who lost their lives in the service of their country. Their decorum with regards to walking and filming on and around the graves of those fallen is disrespectful. The worst in my mind is reading that a survivor who standing over a grave, perhaps someone he knew and maybe he didn’t, was told he couldn’t stand there, he was in the shot. This is wrong, and dammit, I want to point this out. It not as if it simply conjecture, there is footage and sound of them doing the same. Check out the story on 850KOA/Morning News/Stories. Sometimes you just can’t sit back and be quiet.
I would normally (is normal the right word?) speak about what might be considered as simple or maybe easy to digest managerial topics; like coaching, communication or performance management. I speak differently today. I speak today about if you have a belief structure or intention about what is right or wrong, you stand by it. Managers and leaders are defined by their intention, by their integrity, by what guides them during good and bad times. This was despicable and the national broadcasting company did the wrong thing and still does not seem to want to correct it or own their accountability. While they have provided an apology (of sorts), they have not seemed to grasp the amount of disrespect for our war dead. And I object.
As managers and leaders we are called to simply do our job, to sell stuff. We focus on that. The complexities of our job are not always so controversial. They are Skippy, Todd and Mary and the operational ability to sell our widgets. Our lesson today is about honor, respect and standing for what is right. Every manager, whether they are 47 or 27, needs to be able to know right from wrong. And then speak out if in your heart it matters that much.
I am in some ways risk in posting this message. I do. The clients and friends who engage me and read my posts, or maybe have seen me in workshops, or speeches or seminars, know me…so I think they will understand. The ones who may read this and have never seen me in any regard whatsoever may immediately have an opinion of me. Fair enough. Know this. I am willing to stand up for something I think is wrong. I believe those who have fallen for our country must have our upmost respect regardless of the right to film in a national cemetery. I have been to Colleville-sur-Mer (think Private Ryan and the scenes at the beginning and end; it‘s in Normandy, France) and seen the crosses. I can tell you if I were to see someone do what has been reported and filmed, I would probably have said or done something immediately.
Sometimes a manager and leader needs to just stand up and say, “Enough, I stand for this.” There will be different times in your managerial life where the battles will not be ones you need to win. They won’t be ones you need to engage in. They will be sublime. And other times, stand up. I am standing up today, why?
Number one, the action and reaction of the national broadcaster is wrong and I mean to say something about it (here and other places). It must be shared.
Number two, a lesson I want to share today is about having integrity and honor and standing by what is right. Not every battle is even a battle for that matter. Some are and worth standing for. Are you willing?
Number three and perhaps the most personal, my son is a currently serving U.S. Marine based in Hawaii who has performed two tours of Afghanistan. So I have a bias. I will stand by him and all others who have served (living and dead) every day of my life. And when something has been done to dishonor them, I will stand up.
If this post seems angry, I am. If it seems out of character, it shouldn’t. If it seems passionate, it is. If you are offended, why? I am just being real. I say what I mean and mean what I say. I am a passionate person. What’s your opinion, I am willing to listen.
Cheers