By Barry J. Bruns, Col, USAF Ret.
Manufacturing-Works Affiliate
Is leadership important? I was in an Air Force tactical fighter squadron that had a wonderful leader as its commander. We had to literally run people out the door in the evenings so they would have the required amount of crew rest before flying the next day. The squadron was noted Air Force wide for excellence in every measure, and people from all over wanted to join it. The Air Force deservedly promoted the commander, who eventually earned four stars. The new commander was a disaster. He did not treat people honestly, among other failings, and within six weeks personnel were putting in the minimum time at work, and most volunteered for transfer to any assignment that removed them from the unit. What changed? One person, the leader. One of the top units in the Air Force became one of the bottom units in less than two months. You bet leadership is important.
Remember the travails that Continental Airlines experienced in the 1980’s? Many of us in-the-know would not let our families travel on its airplanes because of the extremely low morale, the bad attitudes of its workforce. The CEO took a lot of money and left, and a new CEO took over. Again, one person at the top changed. Within a year, Continental Airlines lead the industry in productivity, safety, morale, on-time departures, and profitability. It became the airline of choice for the same people who would not use it the year before. Yes, leadership is important.
In each example, one of the leaders had a great vision of where his organization needed to go, and knew how to make his people want to go there. The other leader had a poor vision, probably one centered on his own career or financial status, and did not care a hoot about his people. They were simply “things” to be used up on the quest for recognition or vast financial gain. The successful leaders understood the value of managing their things, their resources, but they did not try to manage their people in the same fashion. In fact, as top bosses, they lead their staffs to want to properly manage all the organization’s things. The organizations were successful because good people within them WANTED to do the right things, and to do them well. Under the bad bosses, all the people wanted to do was leave.
Are you an organization’s boss? Do your people want to do what the organization needs them to do? If not, you should seek help learning leadership. If you are a poor leader, your organization will suffer, perhaps even fail.
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