The Leader, The Movie — “We Were Soldiers”
An exemplary leader who is always aware of the situation and makes every decision count keep his men safe, and completes his mission even in the most chaotic situation!
The movie is based on the best-selling book "We Were Soldiers Once … and Young". It is co-authored by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and journalist Joseph L. Galloway. This exciting war movie depicts a true story of one of the key battles between the United States Arm Forces and North Vietnamese forces. It is a movie that demonstrates unique bravery and nobility even under extreme fire. It shows soldiers' loyalty, heroism, and sacrifice during a heavy fight.
In the movie, Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) has taught something what a leader should be.
Learn roles of that who is above you and learn the roles of that who is below you.
Building a cohesive team: He tried to install into his men to always look out for each other and support each other in times of heavy fighting. At the same time, set that expectations that people die when they go to war. They will still have to continue fighting, to support the buddy who is still standing and fighting beside you.
We look to build a cohesive team filled with members who focus on the tasks and objectives at hand while supporting the person beside them to be successful. They treat everyone with respect, assume good motives, and commit to team decisions and strategies, creating accountability.
As a leader, I will be the first one to jump off the plane and the last person to leave the battlefield.
Lead by example: He gives assurance to the men that by taking the lead, he provides direction and guidance to the troopers who will follow behind him. Being in charge, he will try his very best to keep himself safe and eventually help those who follow safely. Leveraging on this experience from his tour in the Korean war, he will be able to read the ground better and make sound decisions instinctively. His action provides the man with assurance and confidence to jump into any fight whenever they drop into. Constant readiness is essential for men especially going into an unknown hostile environment.
To lead shows that you intend to inspire others to copy your behavior. The opposite of leading by example is saying one thing and doing another. The saying “do as I say, not as I do” may have worked in the past, but it has no place in today’s world.
“Broken Arrow!!!”
Decisive and Concise: Calling for a “Broken Arrow” means he is sending an emergency callout for all fighter planes within the vicinity to come to his aid and join in the fight. It is the last resort, and he knows that his men will be at risk. He did not decide in haste, but he was calm, walking around his elevated view of the fight in a calm and relaxed fashion. He confirmed by looking at the battlefield and hearing the radio report between his commanders, “smelling” the danger of overrunning his entire battalion before he called out.
It is essential to make clear-cut and timely decisions with appropriate information even under extreme pressure. Most importantly, decisive leaders make clear and final decisions. This skill can differentiate between plans lacking direction and those focused on achieving objectives.
Understand how to build a strong and effective battalion
Value Strengths: On several occasions, he has gone around the camp to look out for people he feels can add value to his strategy. He admires Captain Snake, who is known to be a people person, where many of the cadets are looking to join the squad.
There is a resource crunch everywhere; a leader will need to play an active role to acquire talent into their team. Good people are not left alone. They usually shine like a torch in the thick woods at night. It also shows that he cares about the people who will join them and how his team will change with every individual joining his team. Team dynamics is the key factor that will make or break the team. Toxic culture breaks the team and will also cause substantial productivity losses.
Not everyone is a born leader, but it is possible to be an effective leader through learning from others. Get a mentor to guide you through this journey. It is a continuous journey. Never stop learning.
