That’s right, kill you!
Leaders Stand Firm
The below article is the transcript of the actual radio conversation between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry in October 1998.
I first read about this leadership article in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
This radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on October 10th, 1998. This radio communication has been referred to in several leadership/personal development articles, books, and talks in reference to the effects of perceptions and beliefs.
Leaders Are Flexible
Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach ~Tom Robbins
This is a great example of the challenges that we as leaders face in everyday life.
In this instance, the British Captain believed that the Irish communication was coming from a ship and was completely unaware that he was on a deadly crash course. Luckily, the communication from the Irish lighthouse watchman was eventually clear enough to support a change in beliefs/perception in the mind of the British Navy Captain.
Just imagine if there was no respectful argument and communications broke down between the two parties before clarity could be achieved?
Much of the British fleet may have been destroyed and many lives may have been lost.
Lighthouse Leadership Moments
The lighthouse served as an enlightening reminder that the only thing constant in life is change. It takes an incredibly courageous leader to accept humility and change his approach rather than sacrifice his mission for sake of “being right”
The ability to be flexible with one’s perception and beliefs is just as important to leadership as the ability to stand firm in one’s beliefs and perceptions.
Once again in comes down to the ability to keep a delicate balance between both flexibility and firm.
Throughout life we will encounter these lighthouse leadership moments in the form of people, places, things, all of which are awesome opportunities grow.
I believe that when the universe throws us these “curve-ball” type experiences that absolutely defy everything we think we know about what we’re doing with a simple purpose of giving us an experience to grow from as well as bringing us back in to balance.
I look forward to these lighthouse leadership moments for more we have, the quicker we have them, the faster we grow and develop as leaders.
Here are a few enlightening lighthouse leadership moments that I wrote about in the past. I hope you find them just as funny as I now do…
How I Lost a Bare-Knuckle Street Fight on Halloween
How I Spent The Last $27 in My Checking Account
Why My Career As A Financial Adviser Was Like Pulling Teeth
When was your last lighthouse leadership moment? What did you learn?
Full Transcript…
IRISH: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South, to avoid a collision.
BRITISH: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North, to avoid a collision.
IRISH: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
BRITISH: This is the Captain of a British navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
IRISH: Negative. I say again, You will have to divert your course.
BRITISH: This is the aircraft carrier HMS Britiannia! The second largest ship in the British Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north, I say again, that is 15 degrees North, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.
IRISH: We are a lighthouse. Your call.
