Building Resilience
Part 6, How George C. Marshall Strengthened His Teams for Success
Throughout this series on George C. Marshall’s leadership lessons, we’ve explored how he embodied traits like self-discipline, careful decision-making, and leading by example. Now, let’s dive into another critical aspect of his leadership: his ability to build resilience in his teams. In both war and business, setbacks and challenges are inevitable. Marshall knew that the key to long-term success wasn’t avoiding these obstacles but preparing his teams to face and overcome them.
Resilience was a cornerstone of Marshall’s leadership approach. His ability to foster a culture of perseverance, adaptability, and mental toughness not only helped his soldiers endure the darkest days of World War II but also positioned them for success in the face of overwhelming odds. For modern leaders, Marshall’s approach offers valuable lessons on how to build resilience within their teams to navigate today’s complex challenges.
The Importance of Mental Toughness
Resilience starts with mental toughness, and Marshall knew that this was an essential quality for any leader or team member, especially in the military. He believed that mental toughness wasn’t just about being stoic or enduring hardship—it was about maintaining clarity, focus, and determination, even in the most stressful situations.
During the early days of World War II, the U.S. Army faced countless challenges, from logistical nightmares to fierce enemy resistance. Marshall understood that his troops needed to be mentally prepared for the hardships ahead. He emphasized rigorous training and discipline, not just to sharpen their physical abilities but to condition their minds for the challenges they would face on the battlefield.
For modern leaders, the lesson here is clear: resilience begins with mental preparedness. In today’s fast-paced and often unpredictable business environment, teams need to be mentally tough to handle setbacks, failures, and unforeseen challenges. Leaders can foster this toughness by creating an environment where challenges are anticipated, not feared, and where failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a defeat.
Creating a Culture of Perseverance
One of Marshall’s most effective strategies for building resilience was creating a culture of perseverance within his teams. He knew that in war, as in life, things rarely go according to plan. Setbacks are inevitable, but how a team responds to those setbacks makes all the difference.
Marshall fostered perseverance by setting clear expectations and leading by example. He never sugar-coated the difficulties ahead but instead prepared his troops for the long haul. He made it clear that setbacks were part of the process and that success wasn’t defined by avoiding failure but by how they responded to it.
In business, this translates to building a culture where perseverance is valued and rewarded. Leaders can help their teams build resilience by setting realistic expectations, being transparent about the challenges ahead, and encouraging a mindset that views setbacks as temporary roadblocks rather than insurmountable obstacles.
When teams are encouraged to keep pushing forward, even in the face of adversity, they develop the kind of grit and determination that leads to long-term success. This culture of perseverance not only helps teams navigate challenges but also makes them more adaptable and willing to take risks—an essential quality in today’s ever-changing business landscape.
Fostering Adaptability in the Face of Change
Marshall was a master at fostering adaptability within his teams. He understood that in war, circumstances could change in an instant, and those who were rigid or inflexible would struggle to keep up. To build resilience, Marshall encouraged his officers and soldiers to think on their feet, adjust to new information, and be ready to pivot when necessary.
During the war, Marshall’s ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions was a key factor in the success of the Allied forces. When plans fell apart, as they often did in the chaos of battle, Marshall didn’t panic or stubbornly cling to the original plan. Instead, he trusted his team’s ability to adapt, empowered them to make decisions, and adjusted strategies as needed.
In today’s business world, adaptability is more important than ever. Leaders who want to build resilient teams must encourage flexibility and open-mindedness, ensuring that their teams are not only prepared for change but are ready to embrace it. This means creating a culture where innovation is valued, and where employees are given the autonomy to solve problems and adjust strategies on the fly.
By fostering adaptability, leaders can ensure that their teams are not only resilient but also able to thrive in an unpredictable environment. Whether it’s a market shift, a technological disruption, or an unexpected crisis, resilient teams are those that can pivot quickly, find solutions, and keep moving forward.
Building Trust and Psychological Safety
Resilience doesn’t just come from mental toughness, perseverance, or adaptability—it also comes from a strong foundation of trust and psychological safety within a team. Marshall knew that soldiers needed to trust their leaders and each other if they were going to perform at their best, especially under extreme stress.
He built trust by being transparent, consistent, and fair in his decisions. His soldiers knew that Marshall had their backs and that he wouldn’t ask them to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. This sense of trust and loyalty allowed his teams to operate more effectively, even in the face of danger and uncertainty.
For modern leaders, building trust and psychological safety is essential for creating resilient teams. When employees feel safe to express their ideas, take risks, and fail without fear of punishment, they are more likely to innovate, collaborate, and push through difficult times. Leaders can foster this environment by being open, supportive, and consistent in their actions.
Encouraging Continuous Learning and Growth
Marshall also believed in the power of continuous learning as a way to build resilience. He knew that a resilient team wasn’t just one that could endure challenges—it was one that could learn from them, grow, and improve. This belief in continuous learning was central to Marshall’s leadership style.
He emphasized the importance of education and training, ensuring that his officers were always learning, improving their skills, and staying up-to-date with the latest tactics and strategies. Marshall didn’t just want soldiers who could survive the next battle—he wanted leaders who could adapt, innovate, and find better ways to succeed in the future.
For modern leaders, encouraging continuous learning is one of the most effective ways to build resilience. When teams are constantly learning and improving, they are better equipped to handle setbacks, adapt to new challenges, and come out stronger on the other side. Leaders can foster a culture of learning by providing opportunities for training, encouraging curiosity, and celebrating both successes and failures as opportunities for growth.
The Lessons for Modern Leaders
Marshall’s approach to building resilience offers several key lessons for leaders today:
1. Mental toughness is essential: Help your team build the mental resilience needed to face challenges with clarity and determination. This starts with creating a culture where setbacks are expected and embraced as part of the journey.
2. Create a culture of perseverance: Encourage your team to push through difficulties and view setbacks as temporary obstacles. Set realistic expectations and lead by example, showing that success is about how we respond to failure.
3. Foster adaptability: Encourage your team to be flexible and open to change. In an unpredictable world, resilience comes from the ability to pivot quickly and find solutions in the face of new challenges.
4. Build trust and psychological safety: Resilient teams are built on a foundation of trust. Foster an environment where team members feel safe to take risks, express their ideas, and fail without fear of punishment.
5. Encourage continuous learning: Resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about growing. Create opportunities for your team to learn, improve, and adapt, ensuring that they are better prepared for future challenges.
Marshall’s ability to build resilient teams was a key factor in his success as a leader. By fostering mental toughness, adaptability, trust, and a commitment to learning, he created teams that could face any challenge head-on and emerge stronger. For modern leaders, these lessons are more important than ever in navigating today’s complex and rapidly changing business landscape.
This is the sixth article in a series about the leadership lessons of George C. Marshall. Stay tuned for the next and final installment, where I’ll explore Marshall’s approach to balancing innovation with tradition, and how this balance helped him lead through change.