A TRUE Narrative

Last week I wrote a post talking about creating a NEW narrative after watching the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.  This week, my post is about another movie we watched last weekend.

I’ve always been a fan of WWII history, particularly battles that took place in the Pacific theater of war.  While I had no use for math or science in elementary and middle school, history, particularly that of WWII was an obsession.  I read everything I could get my hands on that talked about battles, especially accounts from the marines and sailors themselves.  My interest didn’t end there.  My hobby was building model airplanes and armor and creating dioramas around them.  I was good at it too.  Several of my projects were on display for a time at the Tustin Library.

So when it came time to watch the 2019 version of the film Midway, I couldn’t wait!  I loved the 1976 version with Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda.  It played a bit loose with the facts but was still entertaining and the battle scenes were great.  It probably was a big factor in me joining the Navy seven years later.  The 2019 version would have CGI so I was ready to be totally impressed.  I missed seeing it in the theater but with Blu-ray and my big screen TV, I could still enjoy the special effects, along with a JD and some nachos.

The battle scenes and drama didn’t disappoint.  Lots of action and some interesting back stories.  But what did disappoint was the many historical inaccuracies.  It went unnoticed by my wife and I’m sure about 95% of any audience, but for a WWII history nerd like me, it was glaring.  It was a good narrative, but not a totally TRUE narrative.  And it made me think about what happens in organizations today.

Many organizations  have traditions, policies, values, and narratives that are believed by loyal employees.  They have their origins in events and leaders from long ago.  Over time, these traditions may change slightly and the original narrative change as a result.  Eventually, things that may not be true or accurate are believed without a second thought.  It’s a bit like that old Telephone game where the message changes the more it is passed along.  An old narrative becomes a new one, and that one may not always be the TRUE one.

This week, go back and question some of the narratives you hear and believe.  Are they still relevant?  Accurate? Useful?  Effective?  After all, somebody somewhere might just know your history and you’ll look awfully silly believing something you know nothing about.  I know it seems like a minor thing, but if you value your organization’s culture, values, and reputation and you consider yourself a leader in the organization, I encourage you to explore it.

Over time, the Battle of Midway will be told and remembered in many different ways.  In 30-40 years, people might actually believe the Japanese won the battle.  Don’t let this happen to your organization.  Your heritage and history are precious.  Be sure to preserve them.