Eric Kapitulik, former U.S. Marine Corps officer and founder of The Program, joins host Robert Glazer to discuss leadership, parenting, and building world-class teams. Topics include embracing discomfort for personal growth, the impact of threatening positions and stress inoculation, the importance of accountability in parenting, teaching values through donuts, building trust and diversity in teams, and the pursuit of success with appreciation.
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Quick takeaways
Consistent success requires a combination of performance-based goals and behavior-based standards, with consequences for not meeting standards and benefits for consistently exceeding them.
Maintaining a growth mindset is crucial for continuous personal and professional development, allowing for constant growth and improvement.
Accountability plays a vital role in creating a culture of ownership and improvement, both in parenting and leadership, fostering personal growth and success.
Deep dives
Teaching Accountability through Donuts
Every day, Axel would have to earn a chocolate glazed munchkin donut for various behaviors. The first one was for being tough, which meant pushing through tiredness and sharing positive energy. The second one was for working hard, giving 100% effort always. The third one was for saying 'please' and 'thank you,' showing appreciation. The fourth one was for making it fun, understanding that it was his responsibility to have a good time. And the fifth one was a reminder that his parents loved him. This practice of earning donuts taught Axel accountability and the importance of certain behaviors.
The Power of Goals and Standards
To achieve consistent success, it is essential to have both goals and standards. Goals are performance-based, focused on what needs to be achieved, while standards are behavior-based, focusing on how one should behave. World-class leaders and teams understand the importance of having both and ensuring that there are consequences for not meeting standards and benefits for consistently meeting and exceeding them. This combination of goals and standards creates a strong culture and structure, necessary for long-term success.
The Impact of a Growth Mindset
Maintaining a growth mindset is crucial for personal and professional development. Acknowledging that there is always more to learn and being open to different perspectives is key. Whether in athletics, corporate settings, or other walks of life, adopting a growth mindset allows for continuous growth and improvement. The willingness to seek out knowledge and learn from others, regardless of their background or experiences, is a hallmark of exceptional leaders and high-performing teams.
The Importance of Accountability
Accountability is a fundamental value that needs to be instilled in both children and adults. Taking responsibility for one's actions and outcomes is crucial for personal growth and success. Blaming others or making excuses for one's shortcomings only hinders progress. Whether it's parenting or leadership, accountability plays a vital role in creating a culture of accountability where individuals are empowered to take ownership of their actions and strive for improvement.
Developing Self-Accountability and Trust
Self-accountability is emphasized as a crucial aspect of developing team accountability. It involves being disciplined and embodying the organization's values consistently. Trust is built through transparency and effective communication. Being a good listener, understanding others, and effectively communicating one's own feelings and beliefs are key to fostering trust. Trust is earned every day and requires embodying the organization's values and consistently communicating with transparency.
Continuous Improvement and Personal Goals
The concept of success is explored, with the idea that success is about becoming the best version of oneself. This means constantly striving for improvement and not being satisfied with past accomplishments. Reading and learning from others is highlighted as a way to expand knowledge and avoid self-limitation. The importance of setting personal goals, being self-disciplined, and aligning actions with values is emphasized. By prioritizing personal growth and embodying desired qualities, performance-based goals will naturally follow.
Eric Kapitulik served in the U.S. Marine Corp both as an infantry officer and a special operations officer with a first reconnaissance company, first Marine division. As a platoon leader with his company, Eric led his team of 20 covert operation specialists on numerous special forces related missions. After leaving active duty, Eric founded The Program in 2008 with the sole purpose of developing better leaders and creating more cohesive teams.
Eric joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about his military career, leadership, parenting and much more.