Our executive team at Memorial Beach Challenge (SU4S) had the distinct pleasure of attending the Navy SEAL Foundation Gala in New York City last night. We were honored to be among these unflinching warriors and we were humbled by the poignant stories of bravery and sacrifice. Even more humbling, though, was the knowledge that most stories go untold and that much of the sacrifice lies with the SEAL families who quietly endure countless deployments and often great loss.
One consistent theme throughout the night was the ability of Team members to “Lean Forward” in the face of darkness and adversity. We were struck by this concept of ‘Leaning Forward” — And yesterday while chatting casually at the bar with a few of the guys, we asked one of them what ‘Leaning Forward” meant to him. The reply was steady and simple “It simply means that when the situation is grey and the uncertainty is high, leaning forward is the only option because hesitation can get you killed.”
Leaning Forward is certainly a core pillar of the SEAL culture & training. But more than that it is also the driving leadership philosophy behind their motivations and their actions. At its most basic and literal level, these highly trained operators do ‘Lean Forward” — leading men into combat. But on a deeper level, the idea of ‘Leaning Forward” is an attitude and a deliberate choice each and every day. In the darkness of battle, the ability to LEAN FORWARD is the ultimate leadership test where the stakes are high and the results are immediate.
So that begs the question, are you leaning forward?
