15 years ago our country was attacked.
And 15 years ago our country came together.
LEADERSHIP WAS A NECESSITY
In moments of chaos, tragedy, and uncertainty it was crucial that the leaders of our country conveyed a sense of calmness, strength, and hope. Men such as George W. Bush, Rudy Giuliani, Dick Cheney, and countless others were called upon to bring such stability and direction. On that day of September 11, 2001, these men had three traits that every leader needs to exude in a crisis.
1. PROJECT A SENSE OF CALM
Everybody's first instinct is to react. Leaders, however, respond. They project a sense of calm to keep people focused on solving the problem. On 9/11 there are numerous accounts of our countries leaders remaining calm in the face of adversity.
2. PRIORITIZE, COMMUNICATE, AND EXECUTE
There is a story from a White House photographer that was allowed into the president's private chamber on Air Force One immediately following the attacks, where he shares the phone calls and communication that took place between George W. Bush and his staff. The ability to prioritize action, communicate with clarity, and execute a plan proved to be crucial steps in establishing command of 9/11.
3. EMPATHIZE AND INSPIRE
We all felt it. The pain, the hurt, the tears, and the disbelief. Our leaders empathized with us and united us together as a country. Through various speeches, actions, and stories we were inspired to get back up and become even stronger than we were before. When George W. Bush yelled, "We can hear you!" to several NYPD and FDNY personnel, our country began to heal.
Political views, religious beliefs, and the color of our skin did not matter on September 11, 2001. Nothing divided us. We were all knocked down and we came together to rise up. The leaders of the United States of America were strong and the people looked up to them for guidance. I am thankful for their ability to lead through chaos by putting into action their leadership ability. Take a few minutes to watch this video - First Pitch: George Bush's pitch that lifted the nation after 9/11.