I Want To Be More Like George Marshall
George Marshall was being peppered with questions from the President of the United States, FDR, and various cabinet members. They kept asking him: “What is your preference?... What role do you want?”
Marshall was the most respected military strategist during WWII. He was respected around the world from FDR, to Stalin, to Churchill. Marshall had been working for many months on the strategic plan for Operation Overlord. (i.e. D-Day) Marshall was a career military man. He was a front-line focused leader.
As the execution of D-Day on the beaches of Normandy were fast approaching, FDR shared with Marshall and his cabinet that he would not be able to sleep without Marshall remaining in D.C. FDR was wrestling with who would be the Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord. FDR knew deep down that this was what Marshall would want, but he wasn’t getting the answer out of him.
Marshall’s singular response to FDR’s pointed questions that he had been asking for weeks was: “I want to take the role that will best serve our nation.” FDR even had his cabinet members try to backdoor and catch Marshall off his guard to get the truth. Marshall continued: “I will do whatever is best to serve our nation.”
FDR finally made an official announcement by writing a memo to Stalin & Churchill that Dwight Eisenhower would be the Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord. Marshall retrieved the memo and sent it to Eisenhower as a memento because he knew what an honor and historic moment it would be for Eisenhower to be the Supreme Allied Commander of Operation Overlord (the turning point of WWII).
It came out later that Marshall secretly wanted to lead Operation Overlord. Of course he wanted to! He planned it and he wanted to be with his team. BUT he focused on how he could best serve his nation.
THAT is STEWARDSHIP.
Companies and countries can transcend decades when there are leaders willing to let go and serve. The best teams, companies, and countries have leaders asking: “What can I give?” instead of “What can I get?”
Marshall let go of the status (ego) of Supreme Allied Commander.
Marshall gave FDR peace of mind by remaining in D.C.
Marshall gave Eisenhower a chance and opportunity to enter the world stage to develop his leadership.
Marshall was a STEWARD.
I want to strive to be like George Marshall:
What can I give?
How can I make decisions that will benefit a vision of measuring in centuries for all stakeholders?
How can I make decisions that win the battles now and positively influence my future grandchildren?
Stewardship is a necessary ingredient to the success of the team. Without stewards, a vision will begin and end with the same person. A STEWARD does the hard work of letting go and serving those who are next in line.
Onward,
Matt
