According to the story in Rolling Stone, General McChrystal has a highly qualified staff including a lawyer. Apparently he does not have a communication professional. And hopefully for him, he’s spent some time on the message he will deliver to the President about his Rolling Stone interview. There’s “being frank” and then there’s “talking too much.” He’s made one apology already. He confessed to “bad judgement.” Only time will tell what the real story was behind the interview.

The real problem the article points out, when you take into account what may be exaggerated or slanted and who is settling scores, is that there is evidently no clear strategy for the military action underway. The one part of the story that rang true is the voice of the soldiers in the field, as in many wars in history, questioning what they’re accomplishing. 

Whether on a battlefield, in the marketplace or in your home, if you don’t have a clear message about what you’re trying to achieve, you won’t be happy with the outcome.