The Enemy Within

“Grant was handling the enemies within his own army with skill, but his confederate enemies proved more difficult to out maneuver.” “Grant a Biography” by Feeley

Yes, there are enemies within our own company or command, and they have to be managed. How they are handled is one of the greatest challenges in leadership. It is easy to say and write (as I have) that “a leader should not suffer disloyalty.” However, invariably there are other variables that impact the decision to terminate the disloyal and purveyors of discord such as timing, the identity and number of followers of the pathogen,, and his possession of a skill set that is difficult to replace. These realities can challenge the leader’s decision cycle not unlike those that Grant faced in the Army of the Potomac.