Students to get leadership lessons at Gettysburg

O'Shea is director of education and public affairs for the Reserve Officers Association of the United States in Washington, D.C., and an expert in military strategy, leadership development and organizational learning. It's his belief that those who make battlefield and business decisions face similar challenges, and that sound leadership principles can be applied to all organizations.

Now, for the first time, O'Shea is offering a select group of college students a chance to take the same seminar.

Fifteen Bowling Green State University students, five faculty members and a Toledo-area businessman will go to Gettysburg the first weekend in April. Although he considers it somewhat of an experiment, O'Shea is confident the undergraduates and those accompanying them can learn much on this hallowed ground in south central Pennsylvania.

Before the weekend leadership encampment begins, the BGSU group will have done some homework on history, either by reading the 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil War novel, "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara, or seeing the motion picture "Gettysburg."

When the BGSU visitors arrive, they'll get an overview of events leading up to the historic July 1, 1863, battle. Then they will see the battle site and visit the cemetery near where President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address. They also will be involved in discussions around such themes as character and leadership, loyalty, creative thinking, persuasive communication and decision-making in the absence of full information.

"We'll stop at certain places on the battlefield and talk about what happened. Walking the battlefield is a very powerful experience. We'll be on the ground they fought and died for," the colonel explained during a recent recruiting presentation for BGSU students. "

Examining the decisions made by Lee and Meade at the actual battle scene takes leadership theory out of the textbooks," the retired colonel pointed out. "Leadership on the battlefield," he continued, "is the same skill exhibited by a team captain (in business)."

Some lessons in leadership are timeless, and a visit to Gettysburg alone is an emotional experience, says Dr. Brent Nicholson, director of entrepreneurship academic programs in BGSU's College of Business Administration. "

This is a special opportunity for our students. After a half-day tour of the battlefield and seeing the ground where this monumental struggle took place, the students will have experienced leadership lessons they can apply," Nicholson said.

(Posted March 30, 2004 )