When it comes to leading a team, there’s no such thing as too much information.

Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley McChrystal, that means creating a culture of free-flowing information: “The goal is to have everyone know everything all the time,” he says.

McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, and a renowned leadership expert. In his experience building cohesive teams in complex environments, he’s discovered that successful teams are built on a “shared consciousness [where] all have a common contextual understanding of what the situation is.” The key to creating that kind of culture, he says, is radical transparency — from leaders and subordinates alike. Whatever your position, “You are responsible for informing other people of things that they need to know,” he says.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, McChrystal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build shared consciousness within teams, how to communicate across cultural divides, and how to lead with clarity, context, and character.

To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

Episode Reference Links:

General Stanley McChrystal
General McChrystal’s Books: On Character / Team of Teams
155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly
161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You’re Talking To

Connect:

Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:25) - Building Shared Consciousness
(06:35) - Leading Across Differences
(08:15) - Delivering Difficult News
(10:40) - Communicating in a Virtual World
(16:39) - Character as an Iterative Practice
(18:49) - The Final Three Questions
(23:15) - Conclusion

********
This episode is sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

A 12 out of 10 meeting: Trump lowers tariffs on China, Xi cuts rare earth controls

The Globalist

Eurofighter Deal and NATO Relations

The AI-powered Podcast Player