Fleet Admiral William Leahy was the top officer in the entire US military during World War II. He held many positions during his tenure, including Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, and President Roosevelt relied on him for military strategy during this tenuous time.
One of the key operations under his command was D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France that occurred on this date in 1944. It was a complex and critical event — yet Leahy was not in Washington to oversee it. Instead, he was visiting his hometown of Hampton, Iowa, a rural village far from any military action. Leahy shared his travel plans widely and intentionally — as a decoy to the Germans who were (incorrectly) convinced that a major assault would not occur when the Admiral was not there to lead the command.
Remember that at this time instant communication was limited — no fax, email, text, or instant messaging. He could communicate via an unsecured phone line — or, trust his staff to use their best judgment to execute orders. He chose the latter.
When I hear about micromanagers, I think of Admiral Leahy and how D-Day happened without his presence. Don’t feel guilty about taking a vacation or setting boundaries about your availability. If you have good people and provide them with resources and clear expectations, you don’t need to be there every minute.
