Thursday, October 11, 2018

“And now, beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy, and sleepless vigilance, go forward, and give us victories.”
– President Abraham Lincoln, January 26, 1863 Letter to Gen. Joseph Hooker –

“Rashness” arrives in many forms with none potentially more deadly than the order dated February 10, 1968 by General William Westmoreland that would have placed nuclear weapons in South Vietnam for use against the enemy. Fortunately, when President Johnson was informed of “Oplan Fracture Jaw” he immediately overruled Westmoreland and all communication surrounding the initiative was classified top secret. (Click here to read more about this recently declassified situation).

Allowing your leaders latitude to make decisions is key to success – but so is knowing when to reign them in. Don’t ever forget that while you can and should delegate decisions, you cannot delegate your leadership responsibility.