Father Aloysius Galvin, S.J., a legendary Jesuit teacher and administrator at Georgetown Prep High School, passed away almost 11 years ago to the day.  A former boxer, Father Galvin had giant Popeye forearms, a towering frame and a booming voice.  But instead of leading with intimidation, he led with love.  His passion for life, his enthusiasm for sports, and his genuine interest in connecting with students elevated him to saint-like status with generations of parents, teachers and alums.

But perhaps his greatest contribution to the community was his insistence that his students be “men for others”.  This is the Jesuit mission, but Father Galvin put his own spin on how his students should should act:

“Be more than a teammate.  Be more than  a classmate.  Be that person in the foxhole that your peers can rely on in the most difficult times.” 

Displaying the “foxhole” attitude meant putting others above yourself.  Perhaps it was offering a word of encouragement to a teammate who had lost faith. Perhaps it was helping a struggling student get back on track. Perhaps it was deflecting personal glory toward someone who needed it more than you.  Father Galvin would reward this type of selfless behavior with a Foxhole Award.  There was no greater honor.

And if we are going to lead a resilient life, couldn’t we benefit by having someone fighting by our side?  And couldn’t we benefit by displaying that “foxhole” attitude toward others?

We Have to Fight for Our Teammates

In our work lives, there are challenges at every turn.  Unscrupulous salespeople.  Insensitive clients.  Overbearing bosses.  Uncaring colleagues.  Some people are focused on grabbing the next rung of the ladder rather than reaching back to lend someone a hand.  We need to be aware and wary of this behavior.  We do not live in a perfect bubble world and we have to protect ourselves.  But we can’t become jaded and bitter.  We have to remember that not everyone adopts this selfish mentality.

The most effective managers understand that the way to get the most out of their team members is to fight right alongside them.  They will always have the back of their team. They will always put their team member’s needs above their own.  The best colleagues understand that by helping their teammates achieve success, their own success will ultimately follow.   The best salespeople understand that demonstrating long-term trust and loyalty will outweigh any short-term gain that is not in the client’s best interests.  The best clients know that treating their vendors with respect and dignity will ultimately help advance their own cause.

We can’t achieve long-term success by subverting those we are supposed to help.  We have to be willing to fight in the trenches.  We have to display that “foxhole” attitude at all times.

Empathy Can Go a Long Way

The same is true in our personal lives.  Not everyone will be there to support us.  Not everyone will demonstrate empathy in our moment of our need.  Not everyone will stand up and fight for us.  We have to beware of the people who constantly have their own best interests at heart.   We have to limit our exposure to the selfish and self-focused.

And the best way to discover more of the “foxhole” attitude in our lives is to demonstrate that type of behavior ourselves.  We aren’t the only ones with problems. We aren’t the only ones struggling.  So why go through life trying to power through on our own?  It doesn’t take much to truly listen to someone else.  It doesn’t take much to offer sympathetic advice or counsel.  It doesn’t take much to defend someone in their time of need.   But it can make a HUGE difference.  No one wants to be all alone in the foxhole.

Resiliency is a Team Pursuit

And if we want to lead a resilient life, we need to surround ourselves with people who demonstrate this “foxhole” attitude.  Our resiliency will always ebb and flow.  But we can weather tough times and down moments by seeking out those selfless people in our lives.  And we can spread resiliency by always having the back of those on our team and in our inner circle.

Too often, we think of resiliency as an individual pursuit.  Yes, it takes internal grit and fortitude.  Yes, it takes a tough mental attitude.  But resiliency thrives when we know someone else cares. Resiliency blossoms when we fight for someone and we know they will fight for us.

Father Galvin was a great man and the type of person you would always want in your foxhole.  And he knew exactly what he was doing by rewarding this type of behavior with the Foxhole Award.

Everyone is going through some type of battle.  Let’s follow Father Galvin’s example and help others through these difficult times.  We might just save ourselves in the process.