Who Is Your Longstreet?

I enjoyed a good presentation on leadership lessons from the view of historical figures yesterday. Jeff Appelquist, author of Sacred Ground, Leadership Lessons from Gettysburg and The Little Bighorn, offered us perspective on leadership effectiveness through the six dimensions he has identified and written on.

Of particular interest for me was the dimension that spoke to relationships and trust. The primary component Jeff relayed for this dimension was the importance of asking for and accepting honest feedback. The example he used was the relationship between Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee and his First Corps commander, James Longstreet. Lee and Longstreet were fortunate to have served together for many years and knew each other extremely well. They were commrades and also good friends.

Longstreet is quoted in Jeff's book as saying, "I consider it a part of my duty to express my views to the commanding general." So, where the battle of Gettysburg was concerned, Longstreet did just that. He expressed a clear difference of opinion from Lee's. It's noted that Lee appreciated and had accepted Longstreet's advice in times past. But that was not to be the case for the Gettysburg battle. Lee stuck to his plan and, in the end, lost the battle.

My point in briefly sharing this bit of history is that even though Lee did not follow Longstreet's advice in this case, he knew he needed opposing views to be voiced. While the fate of this battle was not destined to be won by Lee and his troops, in many other cases Lee hearing Longstreet was equally crucical in a positive direction.

So, here's the question - who's your Longstreet? Who can you count on to offer you honest feedback? Feedback that both cheers you on and challenges you, at the same time. Each one of us has the potential and opportunity to lead ourself well. But we make progress more consistently, and with greater efficiency, if we invite in a Longstreet.

Don't lead yourself, your team, your family, or your organization in a vacuum. If you have a Longstreet in your midst, seek their advice. Heed it or not, but always seek it. If you don't have a Longstreet, start searching. They will be complimented and you'll be better for it.