Finding Humanity in the Trenches

These past few weeks, I finished reading a book I had been looking forward to for a long time. ?All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is considered one of the most powerful and influential works of literature about World War I. The novel tells the story of a group of German soldiers who experience the harsh realities of war on the Western Front. The narrator, Paul B?umer, provides a firsthand account of the physical and psychological toll of warfare, exploring themes such as the loss of innocence, the dehumanizing effects of combat, and the futility of war. ?I want to shout out to Curtis who suggested it to me a few years ago. ?I finally got to it, sir. ?tips hat

The book hit me. ?Hard. ?Not only the descriptions of the horror of war, but the themes that can be transposed to our every day lives. ?Thankfully, like many of us, I have never known war, nor do I want to. ?But, there are lessons and experiences that we need to learn from others who have. ?These can be applied in our lives at work and at home. ?We can talk about team cohesion, brotherhood (applied to all), gratitude, perspective, adaptability, and for the leadership types, understanding the human cost of what we do every day. ?

There is a passage that was particularly poignant to me. ?As Paul is trying to make his was back to his squad members, he hears voices that tell him he has found them. ?“At once a new warmth flows through me. ?These voices, these quiet words, these footsteps in the trench behind me recall me at a bound from the terrible loneliness and fear of death by which I am almost destroyed. ?They are more to me than life, these voices, they are more than motherliness and more than fear, they are the strongest, most comforting thing there is anywhere: they are the voices of my comrades”. ?As I read through the passage, I get a lump in my throat. ?I understand how Paul feels knowing that certain voices, people in my life, recall me from fits of loneliness and remind me that I am not alone. ?I am surrounded by amazing people, at home and at work, that bring me comfort and joy. ?

What other lessons does All Quiet on the Western Front have to teach us? ?Here are 4 that jump out at me that we should all try to apply at work. ?

Understand the Human Cost: Acknowledge and understand the human element in any situation. ?We work with people and we know that People Power Everything, so we need to take a step back, remind ourselves that we are all human and each of us has a unique combination of skills, challenges and desires. ?If we can foster a compassionate and supportive environment, people will shine and the team will be stronger for it. ?If you want some extra science about it, check out Karasek and Theorell’s jobs demands-control-support model (1990) which shows that support is key to limiting the stress of high workload and low control. ?Ideally, people have autonomy over how they do their work and how much of it hits them, but even when they don't, we can still support mental health. ? ?

See the Futility of Unnecessary Conflict: The novel illustrates the futility of war and the toll of unnecessary conflict. We can emphasize the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflicts in the workplace. Promote open communication, collaboration, and diplomacy to prevent destructive internal battles. ?In any organization, we are a team. ?There can be smaller teams that are part of a bigger whole, but we have to keep reminding ourselves and each other that we are part of that bigger team pushing towards the greater organizational goals. ?Not wasting time and energy on internal conflict is a great first step in channelling our collective efforts. ?

Continuous Learning and Personal Growth: The experiences of the characters in the novel highlight the potential for personal growth during challenging times. ?We can promote a culture of continuous learning and development. Encourage individuals to view challenges as opportunities for growth and self-improvement. ?If you are in IT, this is your bread and butter. ?We all need to continuously be learning, growing and applying new lessons to our work. ?Standing still is falling behind. ?

Team Cohesion and Brotherhood: The strong bonds formed between soldiers in the novel highlight the importance of camaraderie. ?We need to foster that sense of community and teamwork within the workplace. Encourage team-building activities and emphasize the value of collaboration and mutual support. ?That passage that made me cry earlier is all about this. ?The individuals we face battles with become more than family; they are comrades with whom we share the experiences of both triumph and defeat. Together, we navigate the challenges on the path to a common goal, each contribution playing a crucial role in achieving success.

If you are looking for something else to watch, find Band of Brothers. ?It is beautiful and poignant. ?It is also my favourite series ever. ?I have watched it through several times and enjoy it more with each viewing. ?Maybe it’s the fact that I never had to live through such harrowing experiences or that I aspire to be someone others consider as their brother even if we aren’t related. ?I have been to the Battle of the Bulge Monument in Belgium and have looked over the forests of Bastogne. ?I can only imagine the experience through the vision of the producers. ?I have also had the privilege and honour to speak to a boat pilot who ferried Canadian troops from England to Normandy on D-Day. ?He said “the worst part was not delivering these boys to almost certain death, but that I had to go back and do it three more times”. ?I still get choked up thinking about that. ?These experiences have changed me even though I have never had to sacrifice what many have. ?

Richard Winters, featured in Band of Brothers once said "I cherish the memories of a question my grandson asked me the other day when he said, 'Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?' Grandpa said 'No...but I served in a company of heroes'."? I aspire to that.? I want to serve in a company of heroes.?

Work is not war, but we can certainly learn lessons and be better people through the experience of others. ?After all, People Power Everything.

John

PS: If you like these, feel free to forward and encourage your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, leaders, staff, and even mortal enemies to subscribe to the People Power Everything Podcast (Version Francophone) which has bonus material from time to time. ?You can also reach out to me at [email protected]