Echelon Front

No one likes to be told what to do. So, why are you still dictating plans to your team? When you impose your will, you kill initiative. But if you can provide intent, share why it's important, and let your team lead, you get results. People will give their buy-in without you demanding it. And they will execute a plan without you dictating it. Jocko Willink answers leadership questions from the front lines at the Extreme Ownership Muster, our premier two-day leadership training conference. Ask yourself: How can I give my team more ownership today?

Having a bad boss isn't an excuse. You don't get to choose your leaders. You may be struggling with a boss who is ineffective and uncertain. Maybe they lack vision or direction. And when the team follows, their poor leadership becomes infectious. As Jocko Willink and Leif wrote, "There are no bad teams; only bad leaders." But you still have a choice. You can step up and be the leader your team needs. Here are four ways to take ownership and lead, even if you're down the chain of command ↓

Your problems are not unique. They are leadership challenges.   At Echelon Front, we work with companies and organizations in just about every industry, across the country. And we consistently hear the same or very similar things from different leaders: people think their problems are unique. “We have a real shortage of good people in this industry.” But there's a shortage of trained leaders in every industry.    “You have no idea the massive egos we have to deal with in this line of work.”  Anywhere there are humans, there are ego issues that generate problems    “You don’t know the amount of bureaucracy we have to navigate in this organization.” Nothing rivals the bureaucracy of the U.S. military and the Department of Defense --what our Echelon Front Instructors ran up against regularly when serving in the SEAL Teams. Most problems are common; the solution just requires ownership.   We give ourselves the greatest excuse: “It’s harder for me than it is for other people.”    But there are always those who have it more difficult, yet they find a way to overcome it. They take ownership, and look for solutions rather than excuses. And you can too. You just need to lead. Once you recognize that every problem comes down to your leadership, you gain the power to solve it. That is the power of Extreme Ownership. We've seen leaders in every industry apply it to lead and win, no matter how unique they think are. Because leadership is the solution.

When two departments stop working together, that's where friction begins. Let's say Marketing and Sales aren't collaborating. It's impacting the ability for the entire organization to reach more potential customers. They become siloed. They stop supporting each other. And the problems get worse. The solution sounds simple: just get them working together again. But in reality, this problem is pervasive. Silos isolate departments, and friction is infectious. And before they can fix ineffectiveness, the whole organization starts to break down. The boss can't just order two departments to like each other. They have to understand how to repair relationships and rebuild teamwork from the ground up. At Echelon Front, we see this all the time. And it all comes back to a leadership principle we call Cover and Move. Every individual and every team must mutually support one another, working together to accomplish the mission. Not because they're told to. But because they understand that's the only way to win. When we work with companies, we don't just teach this concept. We create real opportunities for teams to put it into practice. When people go through leadership development training together, they leave the experience bonded. That bond is what rebuilds trust, respect, and the kind of care that strong relationships depend on. Strong relationships can be destroyed quickly. But building and maintaining them takes consistent, intentional action. No person wins alone. No team wins alone. If the organization fails, everyone fails, even if one team did their job perfectly. But when the team wins, everyone wins.

Don't let the boss be the easy button for the team. If you're a team member: Rather than presenting a problem, offer a solution. If you're the boss: Instead of telling them the plan, ask them what'd they would do. Not only will the team be more bought into the decision, but it's a training opportunity to discover how they respond. Managers can see their staff's thought process, while the team develops more confidence and trust. Micromanaging bosses are often frustrated their teams by how holding onto plans and execution. The best leaders are ones who empower their team to lead by developing their skillset at every level. This lesson is just one of many at the Extreme Ownership Muster, our premier two-day leadership conference. To learn the proven skillsets leaders develop winning teams, join us in San Diego, this July 8 - 10: https://lnkd.in/gspxbrtY

A common leadership struggle we hear is knowing when to hold the line or give some slack. The key to finding balance lies in the why. Ask yourself: “Why does this matter?” If the issue impacts the safety of the team, the success of the mission, or the standards that uphold your organization’s reputation, you must hold the line. Compromise in these areas is not an option. At the same time, you must guard against letting your ego drive decisions. Is the reason why it matters because it offends your ego? When ego takes over, it blinds you to better solutions. Leadership is not about being right or doing things your way. It’s about accomplishing the mission. Listen to your team. Incorporate their ideas. Trust them to develop plans and take ownership. If their solution works, let them lead. Effective leadership involves empowering others rather than insisting on your way.

Remember the Fallen Warriors. This Memorial Day, we remember and honor our fallen teammates from the Battle of Ramadi: Marc Lee. Mikey Monsoor. Ryan Job. Chris Leon. Live a life worthy of their sacrifice this Memorial Day and every day.

This Memorial Day, remember the fallen warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom. Live a life that honors their sacrifice, and appreciate the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness it affords you.  Remember them always.