440: Leadership in the Midst of Chaos, with Jim Mattis

19 snips

Nov 11, 2019

Join former U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, a 4-star general and author of *Call Sign Chaos*, as he shares his military leadership insights. He discusses lessons learned from capturing Osama Bin Laden and the complexities of strategic disagreements, particularly in Fallujah. Mattis emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration, urging leaders to keep key stakeholders informed. He also reflects on the greatest threats to America and highlights impactful books that can guide current leaders. A mix of battle-tested wisdom and literary influence awaits!

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ADVICE

Focused Telescopes

Use "focused telescopes," trusted junior officers, to gain real-time insights from the front lines.
These officers clarify your message and report back, enhancing information flow for better decision-making.

ANECDOTE

Missed Opportunity in Tora Bora

In Afghanistan, Jim Mattis missed capturing Osama Bin Laden due to miscommunication with his superior.
He hadn't properly informed his commander about the plan, causing delays and Bin Laden's escape.

ADVICE

Align With Superiors

Regularly communicate priorities and align with superiors.
Engage staff with each other to ensure shared understanding and solutions.

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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

Call Sign Chaos

Learning to Lead

Jim Mattis

Bing West

Call Sign Chaos is a memoir that chronicles General Jim Mattis's career from his early days as a Marine recruit to his role as a four-star general and Secretary of Defense. The book is divided into three parts: Direct Leadership, Executive Leadership, and Strategic Leadership. Mattis recounts his foundational experiences, extracting lessons on warfighting, peacemaking, the importance of allies, and strategic dilemmas. He emphasizes the need for America to return to a strategic footing to avoid fighting inconclusive wars. The book offers a unique leadership philosophy developed through constant study and action, making it relevant for both military and civilian leaders.

Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiography by Nelson Mandela that chronicles his early life, his education, and his 27 years spent in prison under the apartheid government. The book describes his role as a leader of the African National Congress and his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement. It also details his political ascension and his presidency of South Africa, as well as his efforts to rebuild the country after apartheid. The book is an epic of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph, and it has been praised for its insight into Mandela's life and his fight for human rights and racial equality.

Personal memoirs of U.S. Grant

Ulysses Grant

The Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant is a two-volume autobiography that primarily details Grant's military experiences. Written in the last year of his life, the memoirs cover his participation in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. Despite his severe illness and financial struggles, Grant maintained a clear and concise writing style, which has been praised for its clarity and effectiveness. The work avoids detailed discussions of his childhood and presidency, instead focusing on his military career and offering insights into his strategic decisions and personal observations during the wars[1][2][5].

The Coaching Habit

Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

Michael Bungay Stanier

In 'The Coaching Habit,' Michael Bungay Stanier provides a straightforward and effective approach to coaching. Drawing on his extensive experience training managers worldwide, he introduces seven essential coaching questions designed to help managers unlock their team's potential. These questions include the Kickstart Question, the AWE Question, the Lazy Question, the Strategic Question, the Focus Question, the Foundation Question, and the Learning Question. The book emphasizes the importance of saying less and asking more, fostering a collaborative and empowering work environment. It combines practical advice with research in neuroscience and behavioral economics, making coaching a daily, informal part of managerial work rather than a formal event.

Jim Mattis: Call Sign Chaos Jim Mattis served more than four decades as an infantry officer in the United States Marines, rising to the rank of 4-star general. In 2017, he was nearly unanimously confirmed as the 26th Secretary of Defense of the United States, a position he held for almost two years. Today, he is a distinguished fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the author of the new book with Bing West: Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead*. In this conversation, Jim and I discuss his career in the Marines and the leadership lessons that emerged during combat. Jim shares the mistake he made in soliciting support for his plan to capture Osama Bin Laden in Tora Bora and discusses how he handled disagreements on strategy in Fallujah. Finally, Jim recommends three books and reflects on the greatest threat to America today. Key Points Creating “focused telescopes” outside the normal chain of command were useful in discovering concerns that might not otherwise have become known. Keep key stakeholders in the loop with these three questions: What do I know? Who needs to know? Have I told them? “You cannot order someone to abandon a spiritual burden they’ve been wrestling with.” Even in a war zone, command was only a small portion of the daily tasks. Most of the time was spent coaching. “History teaches that we face nothing new under the sun.” Books will help you take advantage of the accumulated experiences of leaders who came before you. Resources Mentioned Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant* by Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain Long Walk to Freedom* by Nelson Mandela Book Notes Download my highlights from Call Sign Chaos in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Way to Stop Rescuing People From Their Problems, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 284) Develop Leaders Before You Leave, with David Marquet (episode 405) Influence Through Overlapping Networks, with Sandie Morgan (episode 422) How to Start Seeing Around Corners, with Rita McGrath (episode 430) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.