I’m generally not a fan of military parades. Having been in the military, my frame of reference is the military parades of Russia, China, and North Korea. These are shows of force. In France, a military parade is a statement of national pride, revealing a great deal about leadership. This remains a scarce resource in many companies and governments.
A lot of leaders don’t know how to lead a distributed workforce, but this is the model most companies need to support going forward. A lot of larger companies and government agencies have started pushing back on remote work, not because it doesn’t work, but because leadership has lost its connection to people. Bringing people to a more central location seems like it might be a fix for this from a leader’s perspective, but connection doesn’t just come from regular proximity. Real connection is on a personal level, and it is about meaningful interactions.
Last week, we attended the Bastille Day festivities and then ended the day at Versailles, where it all started. We walked the same steps that French citizens marched up, begging for food, only to be told, “Let them eat cake”. Having had the chocolate cake at Versailles, it is quite good, so I’m not sure why people didn’t just take Marie Antoinette up on the offer. Sadly, she wasn’t available for comment after the incident, so we may never know. In any case, it is the definitive example of leadership getting out of touch with their people. Here are three takeaways from the day that I think apply to all leaders.
Be Accessible
We were directly behind several military, police, and fire units during the parade. They even shared snacks and drinks with the crowd as it got hotter. There was quite a bit of interaction between troops and the crowd leading up to the actual parade. When President Macron came by, he literally could have reached out to touch people in the crowd. There was no wall of secret service or other security. If I had been on the other side of the street, I probably could have high-fived him as he rode by standing up in a jeep.
People simply waved out of respect. There was no pushing back of the crowd. And while there was plenty of security there, it was not specific to the interaction between the President and the people. I’m sure the Secret Service would have a heart attack under the same circumstances with the U.S. President. But in France, it seems to serve as a reminder that a leader always has to be accessible to the people they serve.
Help Your People Be Their Best
Anyone who has served in the U.S. military has at least one story about getting screamed at because their shoes weren’t properly shined, their hat was off-center, or their shirt was not properly ironed (Insert your own example here). During Bastille Day, we witnessed numerous senior officers holding hats and swords while people went to the bathroom, tying shoes, straightening their hats, and just making sure everyone looked their best.
There was no anger or shouting. It was a shared responsibility. Troops did the best they could individually, but leadership was there to make sure it all worked together. And it was no surprise except to those of us who hadn’t seen it before. Leaders took pride in their troops and made sure they were at their best. There was also a dialogue going on in most of the interactions. It was more like a parent helping their child get ready for prom. A mixture of appreciation and pride. Leaders need to remember that if they want the best from their people, they need to help them be their best.
Remember You Are There to Lead, Not to Be Served
As a leader, you serve the people you are leading. This was a lesson from Versailles more than the Bastille Day celebration itself. One company today that I see a disconnect in is Starbucks. Their new CEO made almost $100M in the first 4 months of his tenure. That’s several thousand times what the average Starbucks worker makes. And he seems to have his own set of rules compared to what other staff are expected to follow. These kinds of disconnects generally don’t last long and generally don’t end well. If you aren’t setting an example and providing leadership that people can follow, eventually they physically, or metaphorically, come for your head.
