THE stirring words above are from Lord Alfred Tennyson’s famous poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Based on real events, Tennyson is describing the heroic exploits of the British Army’s Light Brigade in the Battle of Balaklava, during the Crimean War of 1853-1856.
Of the 600 men who took part in the daring charge on heavily fortified Ottoman positions, roughly 40 percent of the soldiers were either killed or wounded---which suggests that the mission was, in a sense, suicidal. To have two out of every five not come back, or not return in one piece, is truly a heavy toll on human life. And yet, as the poem suggests, the members of the Light Brigade willingly rode into “the valley of death,” knowing full well that the likelihood of coming out on the other side alive was truly uncertain indeed. But why did they, even at the risk of almost certain demise?
Simon Sinek, popular speaker and management author, likes to use military analogies to illustrate his various discourses on leadership. He points out that the military has a unique culture insofar as group dynamic, and that’s why he is keen to study them as a means of obtaining insights that might be useful to organizations in non-military settings. Perhaps the motto of the US Marine Corps, “Semper Fidelis,” says it best. Always Loyal or Faithful is what it means. Even if it means going through the valley of death.
What can our organizations learn from this? Well, it’s the concept of “no one left behind.”
Organizations demand loyalty from its employees. They eschew those that have no sense of duty to the team, and favor those who have an affinity for the collective. And yet, they fail to consider the timeless lesson of Lord Tennyson. Because loyalty is not a one- but two-way street. Before expecting loyalty, organizations must first show they are loyal to their people. Otherwise, they have no business expecting its people’s loyalty in return.