The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 234: Jocko Willink - Why Discipline Equals Freedom
55:35
The Learning Leader Show
"As the leader, you are responsible for EVERYTHING that happens in your organization."
Show Notes:
- Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence:
- Humility
- Constantly looking to improve
- Learning
- Willing and able to take criticism
- Incredible story of a mutiny within the ranks because of a platoon commander's ego
- Way Of The Warrior Kid - The message for children
- Be humble
- Don't give up
- Work hard
- Ramadi -- The epicenter, insurgency in Iraq
- The confusion/fog of war
- A firefight... Between friendly forces: Who's at fault?
- Jocko took ownership - "As the leader, I'm responsible for everything that happens on that field. It wasn't your fault, it's mine."
- "If you make a mistake, you must own it."
- Owning the mistakes created confidence and trust with Jocko's boss
- How do you handle a bad boss?
- Make them look good
- Ask for feedback, advice, ask for their approval, build them up
- Isn't that manipulation? "Yes..."
- "It's not just what you preach, it's what you tolerate."
- Decentralized command -- Empowering junior leaders to make important decisions. Front line leaders must be empowered. Why? Speed
- Being empowered as a quarterback to call an audible -- Why this was an optimal way for us to attack a defense and ultimately win games. The coaches needed to trust and empower me to do this
- Are leaders born or made?
- Characteristics of great leaders?
- They take complex things and simplify them
- They are articulate
- They are loud (seems strange, but it's true for military leaders and a quarterback)
- How much can you learn? You must detach emotion, and be decisive.
- Why wake up at 4:30 am? "It is time for me to own, it's before everyone else is awake"
- Favorite part of work? - Podcasting and working with companies
- How has Jocko created this lifestyle? -- Many years of consistent, sustained work
- "Discipline Equals Freedom."
- His discipline for many years has helped him create a lifestyle that he loves
"It's not just what you preach. It's what you tolerate."
Social Media:
- Read: Extreme Ownership
- See why over 150,000 people follow Jocko on Twitter: @jockowillink
- Connect with me on LinkedIn
- Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
- To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12