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Despite the moniker "Dugout Doug," Douglas MacArthur was an exceedingly brave man who was often heedless of danger. In the book, "American Caesar," William Manchester tells about the time MacArthur was asked about why he remained outside during an air raid instead of seeking cover in the command bunker.

The General replied: "If I do it, the colonels will do it. If the colonels do it, the captains will do it, and so on." For MacArthur, it was about what leaders are supposed to do.

I thought of that when I read Kelley Holland's excellent column in Sunday's New York Times, titled: "Stay out of the Bunker." Here's the money quote.

"Many managers, even if not in the worst of times, are definitely not in the best. It is easy in moments like these for managers to go into a bunker mentality."

If you're a boss, from frontline supervisor all the way to CEO, this is the time when you really earn your pay. It may not be fair and it may not be fun, but that's how it is.

No matter how hard the times are you have to accomplish the mission. You have to care for your people and help them develop even though it's harder than it used to be. That's your job.

You can't do the job from inside the bunker. You have to get out, find out what's going on, and have conversations with your people. You have to lead from the front.

Help them and the team succeed. Seize the opportunities that hard times offer. And do what Marcus Buckingham says leaders do: "Rally your people to a better future."

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.