The Leader

I was watching the re-run of the multi award winning mini series, Band Of Brothers (Created in 2001) on HBO last night. I believe, over the years, I've watched it more than 7 times...but every time, something new inspires me. Watching the same movie in a different time, mood and state of mind does gives me different inspirations...

Last night was Episode 7, "The Breaking Point", beside being one of the bloodiest and hard fought battle, Easy Company also suffered the most casualties. Do log on to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1247468/synopsis to get the full story or watch the next re-run on HBO if you don't have the pirated DVDs...hehehe...

Actually, the entire episode circled around all the leaders of Easy Company.
The Trusted Leader that strategies and commands but unable to lead the troop directly into battlefield.
The New Replacement Leader that the men has no confidence in the leadership quality.
The Good Leader, that in the end, broke, rendered incapable and eventually taken off the front line.
The Bad Leader that always "Siam" his duties & goes missing especially during the German's bombardment and unable to lead during combat...giving wrong orders...that caused more casualties.
The Feared but Effective Leader that stepped in and lead the battalion to victory.
And, finally, the True Leader of the Company, the respected leader behind the leaders that always lead by example.

In one of the scene, Staff Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton, The True Leader (Played by Donnie Wahlberg) defended Lt. Norman Dike, The Bad Leader (Even though, all the men in the Company doubted the Leader). Lipton knows too well as he too has doubts but playing his role, he must instill that confidence in support of the lieutenant and continue to motivate the men, especially with the continuous shelling from the Germans.

Lipton's point was, the men should not compare and expect the Lieutenant to step into Captain Winters, The Trusted Leader's role immediately, especially when everyone fought and bleed for more than two years together. The bond and brotherhood that every men has are really undeniable and irreplaceable.

Quietly and undoubtedly, without realising it himself until told by Lt. Speirs, The Feared but Effective Leader, Lipton has been the corner stone of the Company...keeping the morale of the men high and always picking them up whenever they are down. That's the quality of a true leader...

What also inspired me to write about the episode, is the many leaders in the different rank in the army...similarly, to any corporate organisation that we are in today. Mid Level leaders, lead a team of personnel but they are reporting to other leaders too.

Looking back at SSgt. Lipton's position, he played his role as a leader to men in the lower ranks while playing his role as a trustworthy support to the higher ranked officers as brilliantly as he possibly could.

If you managed to find the DVD...take another closer look at the different leaders in the episode. Then, ask yourself the question, which type of leader are you or will you be?

Although, like Captain Winters (In real life, ended his career a Major) who are a born leader, some just don't have the leadership quality in them (Like Captain Herbert Sobel, played by David Schwimmer from Friends in Episode 1, "Currahee") but for someone like SSgt. Lipton, it was through his experience and approach he has, that made him a true leader. He just need to make the necessary adjustment to take the next step once he's aware of it...

Today, I leave you to ponder on the subject with a fitting quote from General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the World War II, who became the 34th President of the United States) ~ "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it".

As mentioned in "Work Smart...Hard", I am a good leader working toward the goal of becoming an outstanding leader...and after all...even if I become a great leader one day...I will still be me...a Chun Toi with Cracks.