Foundational Fridays -- Fun or Folly?

We are in the middle and midst of the "Holiday Season". During this time of year, people around the world celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, and other observances.

Following, we ring in the New Year with hope and optimism. Across many years, I've said this season actually starts, at least for me, with the American Thanksgiving, then we eat our way through the next six or seven weeks.

Christmas is very important to me. The food, festivities, family, and friends are all important, but not the central thing. I focus on the real reason my family and I celebrate Christmas.

The essence, of course, is shared in the Biblical Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all take different approaches to sharing the Christmas story. Yet, they are all connected in covering those events.

This is not a post of Biblical exposition, rather, to simply share, I enjoy not only the food and festivities; I enjoy and embrace the spirit of the season.

I love seeing my neighbors decorate up and down the street on which I live. Some go all the way with lights and yard decorations, others go with understated and simple decor like fir wreaths and simple white lights.

We go simply with LED candles in all of our front windows and a wreath on our front door. We do similar simple things over both of our fireplaces and decorations inside our house.

In the title of this Foundational Friday, I pose the question, Fun or Folly? Yes, that picture is me, wearing the "pink nightmare" from the 1983 movie, A Christmas Story. That is my favorite Christmas movie. And yes, to answer the question, Die Hard is a Christmas movie!

Two years ago, I shared with my team that I had this costume in my closet. I'd worn it to an office party in 2019, which was a Christmas movie- or show-themed event. Event attendees were encouraged to come dressed in a costume from their favorite movies or shows of the season.

If you know the movie, I was "triple-dog dared" to wear this in The Pentagon. Challenge accepted! This picture is me during the last staff meeting with my team a few days prior to Christmas 2022.

Some might say or suggest doing such a thing is folly. Leaders should not give in or over to these kinds of silly displays. Quite in fact, I've worked with more than a few people who intentionally intoned that "work is for work, not for joking around or silliness".

I definitely disagree. Not only was it fun to wear that costume; it also demonstrated and displayed to my team, that even though I am a General Officer, and I took (and still take) my work very seriously, I don't take myself too seriously. I enjoy a gag and giggles at work.

Another example: one day not all that long after I wore this costume in The Pentagon, a couple teammates and I responded to one another with lyrics from songs all day. Once more, it was an opportunity to show vulnerability, to resonate and really connect with people on a human level.

If those we lead only and ever see us as "plastic", it is quite difficult indeed to connect with them with humility, heart, and head.

I learned across many decades as a leader, that fun is elementally essential to engaging our teammates at much more depth. When those we lead see us as truly human, the connections, collaboration, and cohesion all become surer and stronger.

Do not be afraid to be "silly" as a leader. I have found in so doing, I became more real and relatable to those I was charged with leading. Teams ranging from as few as just three people to 3,000.

And, bringing this movie reference full circle, as Ralphie said in the movie; "I want an Official Red Ryder carbine action two hundred shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock, and a thing that tells time!"

Wishing all of my connections and readers a Merry, Bright, and Blessed Season!