LAST STAND: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN

Lead with Humility.
Decide with Courage.
Adapt with Speed.

Billings, Montana

Join The Fivecoat Consulting Group for a dynamic leadership experience rooted in one of the most studied battles in American military history. LAST STAND: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN uses real decisions, flawed plans, and courageous actions to help your team explore how leadership—and its failures—shape outcomes under pressure.

At the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, the U.S. Army suffered one of its most crushing defeats—driven by a series of flawed decisions, communication breakdowns, and overconfidence among its leaders. Lieutenant Colonel George Custer underestimated both the size of the Native force and the unity of its leadership. In contrast, Lakota and Cheyenne warriors—under leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse—demonstrated extraordinary adaptability, coordination, and courage in the face of attacking U.S. forces.

LAST STAND: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN challenges teams to examine what happens when leaders act on faulty assumptions and charge ahead without clarity or alignment. Just as importantly, it offers lessons from the Native American response—decentralized, resilient, and rooted in deep cultural cohesion.

Set at a site that now honors both sides of the conflict, this experience invites participants to reflect on leadership through multiple lenses. It’s a powerful exploration of the consequences of misjudgment—and the enduring strength of adaptive, values-driven leadership.

ABOUT LAST STAND:

What Your Team Will Do:

  • Walk in the footsteps of Custer, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Benteen

  • Examine the difference between boldness and recklessness

  • Apply the OODA Loop to fast-moving and high-stakes decisions

  • Learn how to communicate Leader’s Intent to align dispersed teams

  • Understand the role of risk, initiative, and structure in success and failure

  • Experience an offsite that builds clarity, trust, and decision-making agility

What’s Included:

  • 2.5-day immersive program on the ground at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and nearby Billings, Montana

  • Leadership workbook and case studies customized for your team

  • Expert facilitation by combat veteran and leadership coach David Fivecoat and his team

  • Individual and group feedback using battlefield-inspired scenarios

  • Optional Add-Ons: Leadership Philosophy Development, Hogan Assessment, and/or Executive Coaching

Interested in bringing your team to the Little Bighorn?

Schedule a 30-Minute conversation to discuss a tailored Leadership Experience for your team