The world situation demands optimistic and bold articulation of what can be done with coordinated effort toward a worthy goal.

Leadership Lessons from the Life of “First Man”

by Dr. Raymond A. Craig

Neil A. Armstrong, who died Saturday from complications following heart surgery, lived a unique life experience.  No wonder James R. Hansen’s authorized biography termed him ”First Man.”  Like Adam of old in God’s verdant garden, Armstrong stepped upon another, starker orb (no less the Divine’s) as both an individual and as our representative. The first man to be alone in that vast moonscape—what glorious isolation!—one associate just meters away, another orbiting above in similar aloneness notwithstanding.  His passing deserves pause.  Let us consider three characteristics of Armstrong as an individual, his hallmark of humility and three aspects of the late astronaut as our representative.
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Preparation.  In contrast to the recent crop of NBA-types who belittle practice as just practice,Apollo 11 came off because of comprehensive preparation.  

Accomplishment.  Apollo 11 under the command of Armstrong executed its mission.  He led; others followed.  He did it!  

Contentment.  Once his part was over, remarkable though it was, Armstrong left the world stage.  

One thinks of Lindbergh—in contrast—who unwisely leveraged his fame into misguided foreign policy (to put his views mildly).  No such pronouncements from the pace-setter seen a generation later.  First Man did not strive for recognition.

Humility.  Pilots as a group are not known for their humility, much less military pilots.  Yet a widely-touted characteristic of Neil A. Armstrong was just that—old fashioned, middle-American self-effacement.  

Symbol.  As 2012 winds down we also need to be reminded of the importance of symbolism. “The Eagle has landed” echoed not only back to the American Revolution, but Rome.  Names, places, titles, clothes, ceremonies and so on derive meaning from special use.

Russian punk band Pussy Riot has gained support from abroad under the broad banner of human rights, understandably, but not so much in their own country. Why?  Locals recognized their speech acts mocked historic Christianity, not just Putin.  The importance of symbol is known and manipulated by advertiser and politician alike.

Team.  Not only were the events of each Apollo mission painstakingly practiced, but the three astronauts selected as public faces of each venture had tens of thousands of people behind them. 

Vision.  Armstrong and company fulfilled the challenge delivered by President Kennedy earlier in the 1960s:  an aggressive, rousing, impossible goal. 

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The world situation demands optimistic and bold articulation of what can be done with coordinated effort toward a worthy goal.

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