Position Paper on the September 11Th Tragedy

SEPTEMBER 11TH Implications for Leadership

By: David Kolb, Ph.D. and Donald Novak, Ph.D.

“That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause, you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.” Charles Dickens Great Expectations

For some, the events of September 11, What happened to us on 2001 will be the first link in a chain that September 11th psychologically binds them. For others, it is a transformational opportunity causing We watched in horror, some of us in people to reflect on their lives, reassess person, as commercial aircraft crashed their priorities, and prepare for a into the World Trade Center, the different way of living and working. As Pentagon, and a field in rural we have worked with clients since the Pennsylvania. As in a bad dream, we 11th the conversation quickly leads to first thought it was an accident but what people have realized and the quickly we were shaken to learn the real insights they have gained. These evil intention behind the events. We all insights will have a lasting impact on the have been affected in some way and workplace and on how people live. We some of us know someone who was have created this paper as an aid for personally touched by the terror. Our leaders in these difficult times. As a world changed that memorable day. minimum we want to encourage you to create time and space for people to Of course, there was immediate process the events of that day. We also solidarity around what must be done to encourage you to raise your aspirations help the victims. The acts of selflessness and consider the significance and and humanity were amazing. We implications of those events to determine weren’t playing the role of interested the best actions to take as leaders. third parties removed from the scene watching the reports of war in some

© 2001 The Exetor Group, LLC. Page 1 distant land. Instead we were in the role common cause. People that come out of of survivors. It happened here, in our these types of experiences tend to realize country, near our home. We felt the that they belong to something greater reality of the situation, the threat, the and believe in something larger than horror, and the pain. Then we felt anger, themselves. sorrow, grief, frustration, and helplessness. People reached out in What we experienced on September 11th ways they never thought they would. was war, not a moral equivalent. And, this could be the beginning of other acts The reality is that it is not over--and of war that can happen anywhere perhaps will not be for years to come. anytime. While we could chose to go We don’t know what is ahead. Our forward in fear and anger, we could also emotional state has transformed weekly choose a different path. We could go since September 11th and will continue to forward with the same benefits observed do so. We now live in a place that is not by James: greater unity and a clear a safe as it used to be. It’s open to setting of priorities. . attack. We are not immune or protected from acts of evil. Now, it is how we go forward that makes the difference. Implications for leadership

A leader’s job, fundamentally, is to bring The Significance of September 11th out the best in those that s/he leads. This task is doubly important at this time, as We have been part of something that was the transformational energy that is still intense and transformational. The kind growing needs direction. We can help of experience we are having and will the victims of September 11th first by not continue to have is what many have becoming victims ourselves. reported before as inspiring individual and team growth. William James, an Many people have reported problems early 20th century philosopher, saw what with sleeping and other indications of soldiers in WWI went through and mood disorders. It is not uncommon for amidst the horror and pain he saw the those who lead to put aside their own camaraderie and unity that occurred in needs while serving others. We must the groups that fought together. He also remember to take care of ourselves, so saw the selflessness, confidence, and that we can be fully available for those tenacity conveyed by individuals. As he we must lead. Likewise, it is important saw cultures fracture and individuals to help others so that they do not become lacking confidence, he reflected on how disadvantaged by the event. People we it would be to somehow recreate the war have spoken with feel the stress of the like conditions that brought about the unknown. They are not sleeping well. group unity and individual confidence in There is a loss of productivity. They are a safe manner. He suggested that what afraid to fly. They want to talk about it every generation needs is a “moral but don’t know what to say. equivalent to war.” He hated war but People need to talk and reflect on how determined that it could also satisfy a September 11th has impacted them and human longing to lose oneself in a those around them. They need to

© 2001 The Exetor Group, LLC. Page 2 articulate the feelings, realize the We are now full participants in our changes in themselves, and move on. whole life. Deferring our life until we These changes need to be acknowledged finish this job, project, degree, or other and leveraged; they are strengths that commitment is not living fully. We need will see them through difficult times. to be true to our beliefs, our loved ones, You can help them process and reflect and ourselves. We need to maintain our by creating time for them to talk. Share connections to those around us. As lunch together as a group. Talk about leaders we can help facilitate this by the implications of the11th for your creating and allowing dialogue to take team, department, and organization. place and to help people focus on the Discuss what you have learned from the future instead of reliving the events of experience that has made you better. the 11th. This is an excellent time to How have people become stronger? discuss professional development since There is a lot of potential in this kind of people will be creating new goals for experience to increase our commitment themselves and new ways to approach to being the best person, team, how they balance work and life. Share department, organization, family, in this direction setting dialogue. community, and nation we can be. After a close call people tend to solidify People need to focus on the future. relationships and live with a new Some might leave their current work to resolve. They are thankful if it did not find something that gives them a better directly touch their families and if it did sense of who they are. Others may seek that those remaining are safe and new challenge in their current positions healthy. People tend to want to live and or will want to retool for a new career love more fully and less selfishly. They direction. Give them work assignments are searching for the root meanings in that will challenge them to stretch in their life. According to Victor Frankl in areas they want to develop. Create his classic book Man’s Search for opportunities for people to learn new Meaning, “Suffering ceases to be skills that will enhance their suffering in some way at the moment it performance and their self-esteem. finds a meaning.” Coach them on whether or not this is the right fit for them professionally. Also, Helping others discover the implications we must be conscious of our own of the 11th will help them internalize professional development sharing our what they are learning in ways that will plan with others so they can help us as make them better people. An outcome well. of this is that they will regain their productivity and possibly improve their performance because they feel a larger Final thoughts commitment to life and work. A realization people come to with The events of September 11 caused us to experiences like this is to live more in take stock and examine who we are, the present moment. They reassess their what we do, and why we do it. We are values and priorities and approach tasks reassessing our values and priorities and with a renewed energy and vigor. creating a new plan for how we live our lives. A thoughtful leader will be

© 2001 The Exetor Group, LLC. Page 3 immensely helpful in allowing those Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound, they lead the time to clarify and solidify said that we must ensure the survival of their thoughts and feelings so they can these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, get on with the business of living and tenacity in pursuit, an undefeatable prepare for an uncertain future. We need spirit, the readiness for sensible self- to spend more time listening to others by denial, and, above all, compassion. He creating the time and environment for was speaking in reference to education others to talk to us. Also, we can but these qualities apply to our world of identify further outside resources for business as well. As leaders, we must employees who are having trouble ensure the survival of those qualities in adjusting. Leaders can help people get ourselves and in those with whom we. It back on track and make the changes they will make our world a better place and it feel appropriate to be fully functional. will ensure the continuation of the freedom that makes us who we are.

“We must remember that we are bound together as a people not by brute force, or ethnic homogeneity or geographic compactness. We are bound together by a common faith that ours is a nation which is trying to assure to all its citizens the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If that faith is shattered, we will have lost what no weapons and no armies can ever secure for us.”

Edward Kennedy

This paper is provided as a thought piece for our clients and friends. If you have any questions or additional thoughts about the September 11th tragedy and the impact to organizations we would like to hear from you. Please contact us through our website www.exetor.com or e-mailing us at [email protected]. If you want real human contact give us a call at 970-385-5860.