October 15, 1962

On the morning of October 15, 1962, President Kennedy and his staff were informed that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba. Missiles capable of killing over 80 million Americans were less than 150 miles off the coast of Florida.

The situation demanded a response.

Most of the top military brass believed that a swift military strike was the best option. But President Kennedy wasn’t so sure.

Only 18 months earlier, the young President had made a terrible mistake in ordering a small ex-Cuban militia to execute an ill-conceived plan to overthrow Fidel Castro. He was determined not to have a repeat disaster like the Bay of Pigs.

So Kennedy surrounded himself with more than a dozen close advisors. Over the next two days, the men divided into sub-groups, with one tasked in arguing for the military strike, the other for initiating a naval blockade.

In the arguing and debate that ensued, President Kennedy was keen to avoid letting his position of authority influence the opinions of the group. He encouraged others to speak their mind without fear of repercussions. His only goal was to arrive at the best decision possible.

There’s a saying that goes, “If you find that you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”

But what about leaders? Aren’t they supposed to have all of the right answers?

Far from it.

Effective leaders are acutely aware of their shortcomings and actively seek out counsel with more expertise and different opinions than their own.

A leader isn’t someone who believes that they have all the right answers. A leader is someone who seeks out the wisdom of the group.

Leaders have the discernment to recognize a good idea when they hear one, and they have the courage to act on it.

In the end, President Kennedy chose to enforce a blockade rather than escalate the situation with a military strike. The decision turned out to be successful in preventing a nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union.

Kennedy’s leadership and decision-making approach during the Cuban Missile Crisis is a lesson for all of us.

As a leader, are you more concerned with getting your way or finding the best solution? Do you surround yourself with yes-men, or do you encourage dissenting opinions?

We’re better leaders when we leverage the collective wisdom of the group.