Chickamauga Leadership Experience

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

The September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga (in northwest Georgia) provides a rich metaphor for exploring the leadership skills required to survive and succeed in today’s business environment. During three days in mid-September, the engagements between a Confederate force totaling nearly 67,000 and a Union force totaling approximately 57,000 evolved into complex operations that were fought over challenging terrain. Added to this were the interpersonal tensions and stylistic shortcomings among the Confederate high command in the face of fragmented initiative and the ambiguous direction of Union forces. The Battle of Chickamauga provides a strong framework from which to discuss how leaders view, plan, and mobilize around a strategic focal point. At stake was the important rail-hub city of Chattanooga, which–if captured by the Union–could create a “Gateway to Atlanta” and further cripple or kill the Confederacy.

Case studies of the situations and the leading participants engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga provide a strongly evocative context within which to examine leadership from the participants’ perspectives as they relate to their own company or work team. Our two-day program takes us to poignant sites rich with lessons and perfect for leadership discussion and reflection.

Who Should Attend

The leadership principles and concepts presented through the Chickamauga Leadership Experience can be tailored to meet the needs of the highest level senior leaders to the less-experienced yet rising leaders within an organization. The Chickamauga Leadership Experience explores universal leadership themes any leader will find beneficial to his or her career growth and/or organizational aspirations.

Key Leadership Lessons:

Communicating AbiguityDriving EmpowermentInstilling InnovationLateral & Vertical Alignment
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Selected Case Studies

  • Gen. Braxton Bragg, CSA
  • Col. John Wilder, USA
  • Gen. James Longstreet, CSA

Key Leadership Lessons

  • The importance of creating alignment
  • Instilling initiative and innovation
  • Monitoring execution while driving empowerment
  • Communicating effectively in a rapidly evolving environment

Format

The Chickamauga Leadership Experience is delivered at the historic battlefield over three days, beginning with a program introduction, strategic overview, and dinner on the first evening, followed by a full day on the battlefield and an After-Action Review (AAR) on the second day, followed by a half day on the battlefield with a working lunch and final AAR on the third day. Customization is possible.

 

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