Why-good-leaders-make-you-feel-safe

Whygoodleadersmakeyoufeelsafe0:11There'samanbythenameofCaptainWilliamSwensonwhorecentlywasawardedthecongressionalMedalofHonorforhisactionsonSeptember8,2009.0:24Onthatday,acolumnofAmericanandAfghantroopsweremakingtheirwaythroughapartofAfghanistantohelpprotectagroupofgovernmentofficials,agroupofAfghangovernmentofficials,whowouldbemeetingwithsomelocalvillageelders.Thecolumncameunderambush,andwassurroundedonthreesides,andamongstmanyotherthings,CaptainSwensonwasrecognizedforrunningintolivefiretorescuethewoundedandpulloutthedead.Oneofthepeopleherescuedwasasergeant,andheandacomradeweremakingtheirwaytoamedevachelicopter.1:07Andwhatwasremarkableaboutthisdayis,bysheercoincidence,oneofthemedevacmedicshappenedtohaveaGoProcameraonhishelmetandcapturedthewholesceneoncamera.ItshowsCaptainSwensonandhiscomradebringingthiswoundedsoldierwhohadreceivedagunshottotheneck.Theyputhiminthehelicopter,andthenyouseeCaptainSwensonbendoverandgivehimakissbeforeheturnsaroundtorescuemore.1:43Isawthis,andIthoughttomyself,wheredopeoplelikethatcomefrom?Whatisthat?Thatissomedeep,deepemotion,whenyouwouldwanttodothat.There'salovethere,andIwantedtoknowwhyisitthatIdon'thavepeoplethatIworkwithlikethat?Youknow,inthemilitary,theygivemedalstopeoplewhoarewillingtosacrificethemselvessothatothersmaygain.Inbusiness,wegivebonusestopeoplewhoarewillingtosacrificeotherssothatwemaygain.Wehaveitbackwards.Right?SoIaskedmyself,wheredopeoplelikethiscomefrom?Andmyinitialconclusionwasthatthey'rejustbetterpeople.That'swhythey'reattractedtothemilitary.Thesebetterpeopleareattractedtothisconceptofservice.Butthat'scompletelywrong.WhatIlearnedwasthatit'stheenvironment,andifyougettheenvironmentright,everysingleoneofushasthecapacitytodotheseremarkablethings,andmoreimportantly,othershavethatcapacitytoo.I'vehadthegreathonorofgettingtomeetsomeofthese,whowewouldcallheroes,whohaveputthemselvesandputtheirlivesatrisktosaveothers,andIaskedthem,Whywouldyoudoit?Whydidyoudoit?Andtheyallsaythesamething:Becausetheywouldhavedoneitforme.It'sthisdeepsenseoftrustandcooperation.Sotrustandcooperationarereallyimportanthere.Theproblemwithconceptsoftrustandcooperationisthattheyarefeelings,theyarenotinstructions.Ican'tsimplysaytoyou,Trustme,andyouwill.Ican'tsimplyinstructtwopeopletocooperate,andtheywill.It'snothowitworks.It'safeeling.3:17Sowheredoesthatfeelingcomefrom?Ifyougoback50,000yearstothePaleolithicera,totheearlydaysofHomosapiens,whatwefindisthattheworldwasfilledwithdanger,alloftheseforcesworkingvery,veryhardtokillus.Nothingpersonal.Whetheritwastheweather,lackofresources,maybeasaber-toothedtiger,allofthesethingsworkingtoreduceourlifespan.Andsoweevolvedintosocialanimals,wherewelivedtogetherandworkedtogetherinwhatIcallacircleofsafety,insidethetribe,wherewefeltlikewebelonged.Andwhenwefeltsafeamongstourown,thenaturalreactionwastrustandcooperation.Thereareinherentbenefitstothis.ItmeansIcanfallasleepatnightandtrustthatsomeonefromwithinmytribewillwatchfordanger.Ifwedon'ttrusteachother,ifIdon'ttrustyou,thatmeansyouwon'twatchfordanger.Badsystemofsurvival.4:12Themoderndayisexactlythesamething.Theworldisfilledwithdanger,thingsthataretryingtofrustrateourlivesorreduceoursuccess,reduceouropportunityforsuccess.Itcouldbetheupsanddownsintheeconomy,theuncertaintyofthestockmarket.Itcouldbeanewtechnologythatrendersyourbusinessmodelobsoleteovernight.Oritcouldbeyourcompetitionthatissometimestryingtokillyou.It'ssometimestryingtoputyououtofbusiness,butattheveryminimumisworkinghardtofrustrateyourgrowthandstealyourbusinessfromyou.Wehavenocontrolovertheseforces.Theseareaconstant,andthey'renotgoingaway.4:46Theonlyvariablearetheconditionsinsidetheorganization,andthat'swhereleadershipmatters,becauseit'stheleaderthatsetsthetone.Whenaleadermakesthechoicetoputthesafetyandlivesofthepeopleinsidetheorganizationfirst,tosacrificetheircomfortsandsacrificethetangibleresults,sothatthepeopleremainandfeelsafeandfeelliketheybelong,remarkablethingshappen.5:12Iwasflyingonatrip,andIwaswitnesstoanincidentwhereapassengerattemptedtoboardbeforetheirnumberwascalled,andIwatchedthegateagenttreatthismanlikehehadbrokenthelaw,likeacriminal.Hewasyelledatforattemptingtoboardonegrouptoosoon.SoIsaidsomething.Isaid,Whydoyouhavetreatuslikecattle?Whycan'tyoutreatuslikehumanbeings?Andthisisexactlywhatshesaidtome.Shesaid,Sir,ifIdon'tfollowtherules,Icouldgetintroubleorlosemyjob.Allshewastellingmeisthatshedoesn'tfeelsafe.Allshewastellingmeisthatshedoesn'ttrustherleaders.ThereasonwelikeflyingSouthwestAirlinesisnotbecausetheynecessarilyhirebetterpeople.It'sbecausetheydon'tfeartheirleaders.6:06Yousee,iftheconditionsarewrong,weareforcedtoexpendourowntimeandenergytoprotectourselvesfromeachother,andthatinherentlyweakenstheorganization.Whenwefeelsafeinsidetheorganization,wewillnaturallycombineourtalentsandourstrengthsandworktirelesslytofacethedangersoutsideandseizetheopportunities.6:27TheclosestanalogyIcangivetowhatagreatleaderis,islikebeingaparent.Ifyouthinkaboutwhatbeingagreatparentis,whatdoyouwant?Whatmakesagreatparent?Wewanttogiveourchildopportunities,educatio