Military Leadership Is Easier Than Civilian Leader

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A lot of people think civilian leadership is easier because you don't have to wear uniforms. But i will argue, almost for all those resions, it's much harder. The military has up very clear culture. People can see where you've been, what you've done. You can wrap yourself very clearly in the flag. I the reason for the military's existence in the mission is clearly stated. And as i describe the military takes very average talent and gets above average performance. So i think military leaders actually have a significant advantage.

Retired United States Army General Stanley McChrystal calls on more than three decades of military experience to discuss the fundamental tenets of leadership, and practical advice for taking calculated risks and making important decisions. This wide-ranging conversation includes insights on mitigating risk, making decisions under uncertainty, why civilian leadership is tougher than military leadership, developing mental toughness, teaching discipline, and so much more. A veteran of four U.S. wars in the Middle East, McChrystal was a four-star general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command from 2003-08, when he oversaw special operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His troops were responsible for both the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the 2006 death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. After retiring from the military in 2010 he joined Yale University as a Jackson Institute for Global Affairs senior fellow, and in 2011 he founded a consultancy firm, McChrystal Group, which helps organizations tap into human potential in service of stronger business outcomes. --

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