I was able to attend the Potomac Officers Club event last week which, contrary to what a lot of people assume based on the name, has nothing to do with the military.  It’s a CXO-only networking group that brings in notable speakers every month for a meeting at the Ritz in Tysons.  Most speakers are business-focused, as the POC has hosted Jack Welch, Charles Schwab, and Bob Johnson.

The November event did have a military slant, however, and featured Lieutenant General John F. Sattler, Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, The Joint Staff.  General Sattler is very close to the activities going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He gave the room of about 80 executives an overview of what is happening right now in those places, and how it relates to the U.S. strategy to fight terrorism.  It was an engaging discussion, and refreshing to hear information and personal opinion directly from military personnel with direct knowledge of and experience with the situation.

My dad and both grandfathers were in the Navy, and I have a ton of respect for our military and those who serve.  I also find the military culture to be fascinating, and often relevant to how businesses operate — but not always in clear ways.  I wrote down a few quotes from General Sattler that I found particularly interesting (may not be word-for-word).

On the importance of finding strong leaders:

“We’re always asking, ‘where’s Spartacus?’  If you put a lion in front of a flock of lambs, you’ll fear those lambs.  But put a lamb in front of a pride of lions, and you’ll beat those lions everyday.”

When asked if a change in the administration will be disruptive to the current military strategy, General Sattler said this about following a leader:

“In my 36 year career, I’ve been through multiple administrations.  The Commander in Chief is the Commander in Chief.  As long as the order is moral and legal, I’m going to follow it.  I’m not supposed to have a personal bias.  If I have a personal, I’m going to resign.”

My favorite quote of the day, which I find relevant to any organization structure, was:

“Responsibility minus authority and resources equals failure.”