The amazing events surrounding the emergency landing of a US Airways jet in the Hudson River is the stuff movies are made of (and you can be sure one will be made).
Amongst the heroes of the day was Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot of that ill-fated flight from LaGuardia International Airport in New York, which was quickly interrupted by two flocks of birds, choking off both engines and causing the plane to lose all power, ultimately leading to a catastrophic situation.
And yet...a catastrophe of epic proportions was avoided thanks in large part to an amazing amount of courage, steadiness and decisiveness on the part of Captain Sullenberger. Thanks to "Sully" as he is known by those closest to him, no lives were lost and there were relatively minor injuries. To be sure, the lives of the survivors will never be the same.
Once again, the idea that great leadership is about the courage, wisdom and resolve to do the right thing. In this case, it was to avert the flight to the Hudson River and to slow the plane enough to avoid breaking apart as it hit the icy waters of the Hudson. And it went further. Captain Sullenberger then ensured, with the help of his heroic crew members that all passengers were out of the plane and ready for rescue. Only then did Sully leave the waterlogged fuselage to safety. And what was his next action? He called his wife to be sure she knew he was ok, since he realized that the news media would pick up the story quickly and broadcast it everywhere.
What causes an individual to show such incredible leadership in the face of adversity? Was it his training, his skill, his style? Was it his experience, his upbringing, his humanness? The answer is yes. It was all of these things.
We must all ask ourselves how we would have performed under these horrific circumstances. For that matter, how do we react to and deal with the various "crisis situations" that we face each day in our businesses and our lives? We can certainly take a chapter from this book of life and learn some great lessons about what is required to be a truly successful and inspirational leader.
Have a Great Week!
Jerry |
