Admiral
David Glasgow Farragut was the first senior officer of the U.S. Navy at the
time of the American Civil War. He was aboard Hartford entering Mobile Bay
(Alabama) on August 5th in 1864, leading a fleet of ships when the lead monitor,
Tecumseh, was demolished by a mine. Disaster seemed imminent. Farragut gave the
orders embodied by the famous words, “Damn the torpedoes.” Full speed ahead!
The Battle of Mobile Bay is one of the iconic confrontations of the Civil War
at sea. The charge into Mobile Bay may have been the most dramatic moment of
the naval portion of the war. The
courage and conviction it takes to assume leadership with decisiveness in the
face of uncertainty and adversity is remarkable. The battle cry is an inspiration
for us all. We need to keep moving ahead. We need to be positive. We need to
have faith. We need to believe that we will prevail.
Keep
in mind, no one can have enough information to predict the outcomes of choices
we make, no matter how well informed we are. In leadership roles we are adding
weight to our decisions, because they can have an impact on those who have
placed their confidence in our abilities. We must prepare well and recognize
the risk. There
will always be times when you must take calculated risks and charge forward.
Most of us are fortunate that we do not have to make judgments in the heat of
battle. Still, let’s face it; we all deal with upsets, loss and obstacles as we
live our lives. Be brave. Be smart. Be confident. In spite of your best efforts
you may still find yourself up against considerable odds.
Damn the torpedoes!
No comments:
Post a Comment