“He wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.” Sgt. Lipton, Band of Brothers
Recently I rewatched Season One of Band of Brothers, the HBO min-series about the men of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne in WWII. (Note: It’s based on the non-fiction book of the same name, by Stephen E. Ambrose.) This series is a fascinating study in leadership, not only against the backdrop of the United States military, but also leadership in times of war, life and death. Most interestingly, also because it follows the men of Easy Company from jump training through the end of WWII (Season One takes us through the events in Europe) where you get to watch their evolution as individuals, a battle-tested Company, and as leaders.
This past weekend I finally came to Episode 7, The Breaking Point, which highlights a leadership trait we don’t often discuss, and it is portrayed in an extreme, stark, and very real example. What is this trait? Decision making.
In this episode we have Sgt. Lipton, a well-respected, caring, “in the trenches” leader who doesn’t shy away from tough conversations and difficult decisions. His men know he has their backs. He reports up to Lt. Dike, a well-connected West Point graduate who is conspicuously absent when his troops require his leadership. Sometimes he is physically absent, which is ideal since he defers leadership to Sgt. Lipton. Unfortunately, as leader he was most dangerous when physically present but mentally absent. To quote a line from Sgt. Lipton:
“He wasn’t a bad leader because he made bad decisions. He was a bad leader because he made no decisions.”
This point is emphasized in heart-breaking fashion when Lt. Dike puts his entire unit in danger on the frontlines during a battle. Amid intense gunfire and his men dying, he simply lacks the ability to command, to lead – to make a decision. He freezes.
Ultimately, a replacement officer, Lt. Spears, is sent into the chaos. He immediately assesses the situation, relieves Lt. Dike of his command, identifies Sgt. Lipton as a capable leader, takes charge, and leads the troop into battle. He inspires courage and followership through his actions and split-second decision-making.
I gravitate to this story, this example, because while it may be extreme, it clearly demonstrates the following points:
· Leaders make decisions. Even when it might be unpopular, or even without enough information to know if it’s the “right” decision, leaders make the call.
· Leaders “lead” regardless of rank, title, age, etc.
· Leaders lead by example, they walk the talk, and are present.
· Leaders lift and inspire others through their words and actions.
What do you think? Is a bad decision better than no decision at all? When faced with a difficult, time-critical decision with very little information, are you able to make the call? If not, what do you think the impact is to those who look to you for leadership? What might it take for you to take command and make that tough decision in the future?
