The Loyal Soldier

There is a fascinating concept that emerged after World War II called the Loyal Soldier. This term developed when Japanese soldiers found themselves alone or in small groups on remote islands. Because they were isolated, many of them did not know the war had ended. They stayed committed to fighting even after the war was over; they became known as Loyal Soldiers.

The most well-known case of a Loyal Soldier features a man named Hiroo Onoda, a soldier assigned to a post on Lubang Island in the Philippines. This island was sparsely populated, and over time, everyone in his unit either died or surrendered. Hiroo was committed to the task, and he remained alone, in hiding, defending his post for three decades! While locals tried to approach him, he stayed in an active war mindset and took fire at anyone who came near.  

In 1974, Hirro’s commanding officer made a trip to Lubang Island to try and convince him that the war had ended. His commanding officer was the only person he would listen to, and he finally agreed to leave the island.

Can you imagine believing you were at war when the war had ended decades ago? It seems absurd to most of us that we would continue to fight a battle that had long been over. But the truth is, we all do this. We continue to embrace limiting beliefs, implement outdated techniques, enforce useless and archaic policies, and fight internal and external battles that ended years ago.

Last month, I worked with a new team. In my debrief with the head coach, I questioned a team policy that was directly impacting their culture. I noticed the ways this policy was holding them back. A lot of time and energy was spent trying to get people to follow an outdated rule. The coach's reaction was to become a Loyal Soldier; she immediately defended her post and told me they had always done it this way. 

I took a deep breath – I was aware of the shift that had just happened – and then I shared a question; “I understand this is how you have always done it, and in many ways, it has worked for you, but is this policy helpful?”

She paused to think. I could see the gears in her mind were moving. She replied, “I’m gonna need to think about this.” And the truth is, I respect someone who wants to take their time and be thoughtful in making important decisions.

She was like a Loyal Solider, alone on an island, fighting a war that had long been over, yet it made total sense to her. Her deep commitment to this policy was a form of hyper-vigilance. While she didn’t say this, I would guess that she had been hurt or betrayed by this issue in the past. As a result, she committed to making sure she was never hurt in that way again.

While our conversation was difficult, I recognized that she needed someone to give her permission to challenge a belief, think differently, and potentially make a change. I know her assistant coaches had brought up this issue, but she needed the outside voice of someone she respected to help set her free.

This is the gift that a consultant can give; we see things as an outsider, and that perspective can be a game-changer.

Let’s circle back to the way the people of Japan responded when their Loyal Soldiers returned home. Instead of belittling them, questioning why they didn’t know the war was over, or finding other ways to make them feel bad, they were celebrated. The Loyal Soldiers were welcomed home like national heroes, thanked for their service, and citizens acknowledged how they contributed to the country through their military service.

It is easy to criticize someone for their commitment to an outdated way of doing things, but we have another option. Much like Hiroo Onoda, the path to change often includes inviting someone to experience something in a new way.  

We all have areas of our life where our own Loyal Soldier shows up. If we aren’t careful, we too can slide into a mode of fighting a battle in a war that has long since ended.

The next time you find yourself in a moment of doubling down on a belief or a way of doing something, ask yourself, “is this helpful?”

You may discover that you need to set down your weapon, walk away from your post, and experience a whole new world.

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