Last week we covered six steps to give a great redirection. Redirections are those hard conversations we must have when someone is not holding up their end of the bargain – at work or at home.

Those six steps are 1 – Address the problem early; 2 – Address the problem privately; 3 – Start with praise; 4 – Be Clear; 5 – Fill the gap with trust and 6 – Get them back on the horse.

Today, I want to share an excellent example of a redirection that might even be historically accurate. At least it does come from a historical movie. I found this example while reading the book “Love Works” by Joel Manby. Joel wrote the book while serving as President and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment – the company that owns Wild Adventures.

Herschend Family Entertainment is the largest family-owned theme park operator in the United States. The book is all about how Herschend leadership leads with love as defined by 1 Corinthians 13 while getting great financial results. When the book was published, Herschend was generating 14 percent annual returns to shareholders while helping thousands of employees in financial need through the company’s foundation. I highly recommend the book.

The great redirect example comes from the 1993 movie “Gettysburg.” Here is the scene as described in “Love Works.” Following the first day’s battle, a meeting takes place between General Robert E. Lee (played by Martin Sheen) who commanded the armies of the South and Major General J.E.B. Stuart who oversaw the South’s cavalry.

Union forces had badly beaten Lee’s men and a big part of the reason was that General Stuart provided his boss with inadequate intelligence about the enemy’s positions and movements. Wouldn’t this be the perfect time for some public admonishment? Read how the conversation went and count how many of the six steps Lee followed.

The confrontation takes place in Lee’s tent; the space is only lit by candles. “It is the opinion of some excellent officers that you have let us all down,” says General Lee.

“General Stuart, your mission was to free this army from the enemy cavalry and to report any movement by the enemy’s main body. That mission was not fulfilled. You left here with no word of your movement or the movement of the enemy for several days. Meanwhile, we were engaged here, drawn into battle without adequate knowledge of the enemy’s strength or position, without knowledge of the ground. Sir, it is only by God’s grace that we did not meet disaster here…”

Lee continues, with passion and conviction but without malice. “Perhaps I did not make myself clear. Well sir, this must be made very clear…You sir, with your cavalry are the eyes of this army, and without your cavalry, we are made blind. That has already happened once; it must never, ever happen again.”

General Stuart begins to resign his post, but Lee cuts him off. “There is no time for that! There is no time!” Lee walks over and puts his hand on Stuart’s shoulder. “There is another fight coming tomorrow, and we need you. You must take what I have told you and learn from it, as a man does.”

Lee concludes, “There has been a mistake. It will not happen again. I know your quality; you are one of the finest cavalry officers I have ever known. Your service to this army here has been invaluable. Now…let us speak no more of this. The matter is concluded…Good night, General.”

Isn’t this the way we would all like to be treated? Leading with love does not mean ignoring poor performance and certainly not putting off the hard conversation.

Is there a hard conversation that you need to have? Follow the six steps above to ensure the best possible outcomes.