developing today’s business leaders
for tomorrow’s challenges
through history’s lessons
BATTLEFIELD LEADERSHIP - LITTLE BIG HORN LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
General Information
Known also as Custer’s Last Stand, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, fought in June of 1876,
marked the end of Native American dominance on the Great Plains. The Lakota Sioux massacre of Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s detachment of approximately 220 men is one of the
most notable and controversial events in the history of the American West. Long interpreted
as a monument to hubris and complacency, the actions of the combatants at the Little Bighorn
offer powerful lessons in the value of team alignment, commitment and adaptive leadership for
today’s corporate world.
The story of how, despite deep interpersonal animosity in his team and unclear direction from
his superiors, Custer is able to organize and deploy effectively to contain his adversary and believe, until about 20 minutes before he is killed, that his plan is working to perfection, offers
powerful lessons about situational awareness and adaptive leadership. On the side of the Native Americans, the example of how Sitting Bull forges an alliance of former enemies, changes
the way the Indians fight and organizes to execute flawlessly provides compelling and instructive parallels for leaders in the contemporary business environment. Dynamics relating to
these and other dimensions of leader and team effectiveness are examined through the pivotal
events of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Case Studies
Cases will center on: envisioning and shaping the future, gaining engagement and commitment, influencing without authority, and leading through confidence and composure in the examples of Sitting Bull and Gall; maintaining strategic focus
and tactical awareness simultaneously, the risk of indecision and inaction in a fluid environment, and maintaining the initiative in the case of Marcus Reno; mission-driven leader selection, effective use of competitive intelligence, assessing and
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developing today’s business leaders
for tomorrow’s challenges
through history’s lessons
mitigating risk while exploiting opportunity, and instilling a mission-first, self-interest-last mindset in Custer’s example;
and, establishing clarity of intent, maintaining mission focus amidst changing priorities, and establishing clear accountability in examining Benteen’s role.
Leadership Lessons
Dimensions of leadership especially highlighted during the experience include:

Avoiding complacency and underestimation of the competition

Forging alignment and collaboration throughout and across organizational boundaries

Building trust and ensuring commitment

Preventing passive aggression in a team

Reinforcing mission focus and clarity of deliverables

Communicating effectively/fully in a rapidly evolving and complex environment

Maintaining initiative in the face of unexpected obstacles

Resolving conflict and constructive confrontation
Program Formats
Programs can be designed to fit the following formats:
A two-day program delivered over three days, beginning at 5:30 PM on the evening of Day One with a strategic
overview, with the next day on the battlefield with an After-Action Review (AAR) back at the lodging facility as Day Two, and the morning of Day Three on the battlefield with a working lunch and final AAR back at
the lodging facility.
A 1.5-day program delivered over two days, beginning with a strategic overview over lunch on Day One, the
afternoon on the battlefield with a brief AAR at the lodging facility before dinner, six hours of Day Two on
the battlefield followed by the final AAR at the lodging facility – either followed by departure, or a final dinner and departure early morning of Day Three.
The first format above is the standard program offering and is especially recommended for groups wanting to
achieve a significant level of teambuilding as a part of the process.
Recommended Conference Center Facilities
Our preferred lodging site is the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings, MT, approximately 50 minutes east of the Little
Bighorn battlefield. The Crowne Plaza is an upscale conference-oriented hotel with comfortable accommodations
and convenient meeting space, and top-notch restaurants are on its top floor at The Petroleum Club and directly
across the street. The Crowne Plaza is centrally located for purposes of the program.
Transportation
For programs using the Crowne Plaza, the only convenient airport for commercial or private flights is Billings airport, about a 10 minute drive from the hotel. All on-site transportation is arranged and provided for by Battlefield
Leadership. Service for airport transfers can be set up through a hotel shuttle or individually with providers sourced
through Battlefield Leadership. Rental cars are available at the airport.
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