Lessons from a war hero

A couple of weeks back, we at UltraTech had the honor of hosting, a man of peace, someone who always had a strong emphasis on human rights. 

Yet, in the best traditions of India, a man of peace, is also one of the great warrior heroes of our Country.

Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda. 

For service to the nation, he has been awarded many gallantry honors and medals. Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal among others

Because of him and his men, we have a secure nation. Because of heroes like him we all sleep peacefully and secure in our homes. Because of leaders like him, we have one of the strongest and most respected armies in the world. 

Of course, his most famous act, was just before his retirement. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army's Northern Command and led the planning and execution of the “Surgical Strike” across the border. 

It was incredible to listen to his wisdom and gain from his vast army and life experience and relate it to one of the biggest challenges we are facing as a country. 

While we thanked him for his over 40 years of sterling service to our nation, he imparted lessons of resilience, empathy, courage and picking yourself up for the new mission ahead with us. There were lessons for us as Individuals, Leaders and as Organizations. I am sharing some of these treasurable insights.

Lessons for us as Individuals

1. Accepting Reality: From surviving in the world’s highest battleground to picking up the pieces after the URI attack. First step to recognise the changed reality and Accept that your world has changed. Reality cannot be wished away. Only accepting reality forces you to act in a different manner. Denial is not a luxury that we can afford.
2. Overcome Fear : Everyone feels fear, even the brave soldiers. It’s important to acknowledge it and overcome it.
3. Sense of Purpose: Once you have a strong sense of purpose, it acts like a compass guiding you. It also helps you take away the focus from temporary setbacks, and keep an eye on the long term. Winning the War is the focus, even if there are losses in the immediate battle.
4. Seek and find inspiration: At times of crisis this acts like fuel that can keep you on. If not from your immediate field, find it in an unrelated domain. Past leaders, your family, nature, poetry. Anything can inspire you to find the “How” of how to dig yourself out of the hole and to keep the faith.

Lessons for us as Leaders

These apply to you at every level, if you are the CEO of a company, a platoon leader or the head of a household.

1. Trust in leadership: Resiliance in crisis comes only when teams and individuals can trust and have faith in the leadership. It is in a crisis where all the investment in culture pays off. Integrity, genuineness team bonds built during peace time pays rich dividends in times of crisis.
2. Flattening the hierarchy: In times of peril when “Urgent and important” are assaulting you at the same time, long chains of command don’t work. If there is capital of trust leaders are able to flatten the hierarchy and teams can fight a crisis.
3. Involvement vs Detachment: You can demonstrate empathy, however crises demand action. Leaders need to be clear that there will be pain and there will be sacrifice.  The decision leaders need to take with empathy towards all, yet with a detachment that helps keep your judgement clear.

Lessons for Organisations: 

1. Building a culture of trust: Trust is the currency that is valuable in a crisis. It’s the glue holding the people who may be individually uncertain but have faith that someone somewhere will back them. In a crisis it is what allows people to still put the collective and the purpose ahead of the self. That no soldier will be left behind, is energising, empowering and enabling.
2. Depend on each other: The large organisation is typically not within reach at these times. The small teams, the trust, friendship and camaraderie within these small teams is what sustains. Be it the small raiding team of special forces behind enemy lines / a small team within a commercial organisation.
3. Culture of Empathy : Crisis is the time where people and teams look for signals. Not of structure and processes, like in normal times, but for empathy and compassion. The times reveal a lot about leaders and leadership and if they can truly live up to the lofty values and people focus emblazoned on the coat of arms.

For all Individuals, Leaders and Organisations :

A crisis is the time to redefine “Success”. Nothing clarifies and focuses the mind like a crisis. In this clairvoyance, sharpened priorities and the soul searching, the true North Pole and the mission ahead should emerge.

Be clear what your objectives are in each project: "The objective of winning a war is to win the peace"

Most importantly, it can be said that we win or lose each battle mostly by our own thoughts!

Wisdom that I believe would hold good for us in any crisis, any battle.

Thanks to all the heroes in uniform, thanks to Lt. General Hooda for his service to the nation and sharing his wisdom.