On May 8, 1945, Germany unconditionally surrendered in World War II. Today, we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and acknowledge the great sacrifices made by so many.
VE Day caused celebrations throughout the U.S. and Europe as the Nazi regime acknowledged defeat and ceased fighting on European lands. Thousands filled the streets to cheer.
While there was much cause for celebration, U.S. President Harry Truman noted that it was a “victory only half won,” as fighting was still rampant in Japan. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill noted: “We may allow ourselves a brief piece of rejoicing as Japan remains unsubdued.”
Both of these leaders understood the magnitude of the German surrender and allowed for celebrations of that achievement. They did not wait until the war was entirely over before giving people a reason for joy. Instead, they acknowledged a milestone that gave people hope and optimism during a long period of darkness.
Take a lesson from the Allies and celebrate interim steps as well as the final victory or completion of your project. There were many leadership lessons to be learned from WWII, and celebrating the achievement of key benchmarks is just one of them.
