Custer’s Hidden Agenda
Custer’s Hidden Agenda
Insights for Today's Leaders
“Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
- Mattie Stepanek
Custer’s Hidden Agenda
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
The wild, untamed landscape of eastern Montana in 1876 became the setting for one of the most dramatic battles in American history — the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand.
General George Armstrong Custer, a man with great ambition, found himself leading the 7th Cavalry against the Native American tribes of the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne. With a fatal combination of overconfidence and underestimating his opponent, Custer overlooked how badly his troops were outnumbered. The Native Americans had ten warriors for every soldier under Custer's command. Custer also had a hidden agenda, many believe he wanted to be president.
Custer was a daring and driven leader; with only two days until the Democratic National Convention he thought a big win on the battlefield could propel him to become the next president. He charged ahead with nearly 300 men to battle the combined forces of Native American chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
The US Army’s 7th Cavalry faced total annihilation just 20 minutes after Custer ordered the ill-fated attack. When Custer was killed in the battle is debated; his body was later found on top of the hill of the last stand.
There are a number of important lessons for us to draw from Custer’s infamously bad decision-making:
Don't let overconfidence cloud your judgment. Custer's belief in his invincibility and an underestimation of his opponents led to a horrific outcome.
Strategic planning is key. Impulsive decisions — well beyond the battlefield — can have dire consequences.
Effective and clear communication is vital. Teams need to understand the 'why' behind leaders’ actions. A clear picture of why Custer attacked when he did remains puzzling to this day.
Being brave doesn’t make you smart. Custer, though unquestionably courageous, serves as a cautionary tale. The destruction of the 7th Cavalry wasn't just Custer's own downfall; it brought down everyone who followed him.
Don’t go looking for fights. Teams and leaders must navigate challenges with humility, strategic thinking, and a genuine commitment to the collective success of the group. Leadership is not about avoiding your own downfall; instead, it is about ensuring the success of everyone around you.
Avoid hidden agendas! Custer’s determination to prove himself, coupled with brash decision-making, turned him into a leader more focused on personal glory than the success of those under his command. His visions of becoming president drove him to make a disastrous decision for everyone involved.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Connecting this quote to the story. The quote shows the significance of personal and leadership growth over accomplishments. For Custer, his approach to a goal of becoming president may have prevented him from ever achieving that exact goal.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Are you into being right, or doing right?
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2024