The Authentic Leader

This week’s issue of Newsweek features an essay written by Chelsey B. “Sully” Sullenberger, the US Airways pilot who executed that miraculous landing of Flight 1549 in the Hudson River last month.


http://www.newsweek.com/id/184605
All I Wanted Was to Talk to My Family, and Get Some Dry Socks


I am among the millions of people who have watched this graceful man accept adulation, admiration and appreciation from every corner of the world. And as I watched him and his crew (who must not be forgotten in the immediate focus on Captain Sullenberger), gamely making the rounds of various media outlets, I wondered how they withstood it. So much attention, so much need to be “on” for the public, so many recitations of their moment of horror. These people had been just about as close to death as anyone who gets to survive and tell the tale. And they had responsibility for 150 other people. I can’t imagine how many times Capt. Sullenberger must have wanted to turn his back and run into the embrace of his family, ministering to their own personal trauma from what could have been.

For me, the Newsweek essay reveals the authentic essence of the Captain in a way that the multiple television interviews did not. His view of leadership, stated so simply and woven throughout the essay, provides an example for each of us. This portion, in particular, stood out to me:


“[W]e followed our training, and our philosophy of life. We valued every life on that airplane and knew it was our responsibility to try and save each one, in spite of the sudden and complete failure of our aircraft.

“We never gave up. Having a plan enabled us to keep our hope alive. Perhaps in a similar fashion, people who are in their own personal crises – a pink slip, a foreclosure – can be reminded that no matter how dire the circumstance, or how little time you have to deal with it, further action is always possible. There’s always a way out of even the tightest spot. You can survive.”

Having a plan. Being clear about your values, priorities and philosophy of life, so you can adjust your plan along the way. Having faith in your ability to survive.

That pretty much sums it up.

One other observation about Capt. Sullenberger: despite the steadiness he conveyed in his various television appearances, he could not hide his discomfort with the hero worship being heaped upon him. He could not view himself that way. Yet in his essay, he expresses his evolution about his new public role, and its value to other people:

“My family and I are trying hard to remain true to ourselves and not let this change us, but there’s a steep learning curve. The trajectory of our lives has changed forever. And we’re determined to make good come of this in every way that we can.”

The words of an authentic leader.