In the fall of 1863, an entire Union army was trapped in the strategically important southern town of Chattanooga, Tenn. If the Confederates could force a Union surrender, their dream of an independent country might soon be realized. Recognizing this, the Lincoln administration immediately dispatched the hard-charging Ulysses S. Grant to break the rebel siege. A combination of Confederate leadership dysfunction, Grant’s bold actions and unexpected events ultimately led to a Federal victory. The stunning events at Chattanooga, which served as a springboard to Grant’s future presidency, were a major catalyst to ending the Civil War just 17 months later.
The Delivery
The program is delivered onsite in Chattanooga over the course of one day. We travel by executive transportation to major historical areas, including Lookout Mountain, Orchard Knob and Missionary Ridge. By standing in the actual footsteps of history, the format is highly memorable and enriching. The day concludes with an after action review to ensure each group and participant departs with immediate actions for implementation back in the work environment. With a focus on maximum participant engagement, the session can be used in conjunction with:
- Annual Strategic Planning
- Team Building
- New Employee Onboarding
- Ongoing Professional Development & Training
- Creative or Strategic Ideation Sessions
- Sales Meetings
- Customer Events
The Need
No matter the industry, organizations of all sizes need to have strategic alignment, effective communication and the ability to resolve conflict. Moreover, every organization needs to engage its employees at every level to achieve their ultimate objectives.
Who Should Attend
With its focus on leadership, team building and communication, the program is most applicable for executives, managers and rising leaders. However, the program can be customized to meet any group, team or set of individuals regardless of their title, role or experience.
The Benefits
Participants will learn new communication and leadership concepts that can further benefit their existing skill sets. The program is a compelling platform that can help organizations focus on critical leadership and team-building elements such as:
- Strategic Planning
- Resource Allocation
- Resiliency
- Adaptability
- Clarity of Mission
- Effective Communication
- Employee Engagement
Special Effectiveness
The Battle of Chattanooga Leadership Program has proven to be highly effective for:
- Leadership Teams
Supports strategic planning - Rising Leaders
Supports next-level readiness - Sales Force Teams
Supports communication
The Materials
Each participant will receive a Battle of Chattanooga Program Booklet several weeks in advance of a session. Each booklet contains the elements needed for a successful engagement, including: Case studies on key leaders and situations; a Strategic Overview that sets the historical context; maps; and bios of every historical figure discussed. The full day’s agenda with each stop and business discussion points can be provided upon request.
Key Locations and Business Themes
Lookout Mountain
A majestic site, it is here where the Confederate leadership dysfunction reached its zenith. We explore the Confederate army’s lack of strategic alignment from President Jefferson Davis down to generals Braxton Bragg and James Longstreet.
We review the strained dynamic between Bragg and his number-two commander, Longstreet, and what, if anything, could have been done to repair their relationship.
Orchard Knob
Serving as Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters, it is from this spot that Grant ordered a hasty and poorly communicated order — a suicide mission for his men to attack the heavily fortified Missionary Ridge directly in front of them.
We dig deep to understand what motivates decisions, how to weigh options and what happens when decisions are made quickly and under stress.
Missionary Ridge
A Confederate strategic advantage, Missionary Ridge offered a commanding view of the Union army trapped in downtown Chattanooga. Fortified with cannon at the top and rifle pits at the base, it was an imposing prospect should the Union attempt an attack on it. Yet Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s preoccupation with other personal priorities created a distraction where attention to details were overlooked.
We discuss how teams and organizations can easily lose focus and their strategic advantage. We delve into the role of team morale and the “sunk cost fallacy.”
Schedule a Session for Your Team
Your Guide
Matt Spaulding
Founder & President
Matt Spaulding is the founder and president of Spaulding Communications. With more than 25 years of marketing communications experience, Matt is a former instructor of business communication at Georgia State University and a Resource Speaker with Vistage, an global executive coaching company. A frequent writer on PR and leadership communication, Matt has been quoted in outlets ranging from The Wall Street Journal to PR Weekly to the Latimes.com
Contact Us
For pricing and how we can customize a session for you, drop a note or give us a call.
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Hotel Reservations
The beautiful Chattanoogan Hotel serves as our HQ and meeting space for the program. For more, visit www.chattanooganhotel.com
Further Support
After a one-day program is complete, we offer additional training or individual coaching to ensure the lessons learned are turned into long-term results for your team and participants.
Download a Case Study
Get an inside look at how the historical events are utilized to bring leadership and effective communication into the workplace. Download a Washington Program case study now
Schedule a Session for Your Team
If you’re ready to schedule a training program for your team or organization, contact us at:
matts@spauldingcommunications.com or 404.324.6031.