Toxic Leadership & The Pat Tillman Case - Pete Blaber
Feb 14, 2024
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Former Delta Force Commander, Pete Blaber, discusses toxic leadership and the Pat Tillman case. He explores leadership qualities, the rise of special operations forces, and the power of the thinking brain. Blaber also delves into the implementation of a CFT in dangerous territory and analyzes the consequences of toxic leadership. The podcast includes a rapid-fire Q&A session and emphasizes the impact of truth and changing perspectives.
Pete Blabour emphasizes the importance of common sense leadership in both military and corporate settings.
Toxic leadership can have disastrous consequences, as seen in the case of Pat Tillman's death.
Leaders should prioritize rational decision-making and create a positive climate to prevent negative outcomes and ensure team success.
Deep dives
Overview of Pete Blabour's Career and Background
Pete Blabour is a former Delta Force commander who had command at every level of the US Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta. He has served in various significant military and political events, including Panama, Colombia, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. After retiring from the military, he transitioned to leading corporate teams in a biotechnology company. Pete has written three books, including The Mission, The Men, and Me, which is widely read among tactical units and required reading in tactical leadership programs. He focuses on leadership and improving leadership styles.
The Importance of Common Sense Leadership
Pete Blabour's second book, The Common Sense Way, explores the concept of common sense leadership. He explains that common sense refers to the common way humans make sense of the world through their senses and how our brains are hardwired to make decisions and solve problems. Engaging the thinking brain or the neocortex is essential to overcome the emotional brain's influence and make rational decisions. He emphasizes the importance of staying calm and thinking, especially in dangerous or emotionally fraught situations. The book highlights the value of common sense leadership in the military, corporate world, and even in personal relationships.
The Investigation into the Pat Tillman Case
Pete Blabour became involved in the Pat Tillman case when he discovered inconsistencies in the narrative surrounding Tillman's death. He was approached by several senior NCOs who expressed concerns about a toxic leadership climate that compromised safety and obscured the truth. Blabour uncovered evidence that challenged the official account and prompted Marie Tillman, Pat Tillman's mother, to seek his assistance. He dedicated himself to reviewing over 3,500 pages of investigations and testimonies to shed light on the case, ultimately aiming to understand what really happened and raise awareness about the dangers of toxic leadership.
Toxic leadership and its consequences
The podcast episode delves into the concept of toxic leadership and how it can have far-reaching consequences. It highlights the importance of leaders using common sense to make good decisions and solve complex problems in order to create a positive and effective climate for their teams. The episode emphasizes that toxic leaders, who prioritize their own interests and wield power without accountability, can lead to disastrous outcomes, such as in the case of the tragic friendly fire incident involving Pat Tillman.
The sequence of events leading to the tragedy
The podcast details the series of decisions that ultimately led to the friendly fire incident. It highlights the flawed mission planning, poor communication, and disregard for the safety and well-being of the platoon members. From the decision to drag a disabled vehicle through a treacherous terrain to splitting the platoon and denying requests for extraction, each choice contributed to the chain of events that culminated in the tragic loss of Pat Tillman's life.
Lessons learned and the importance of common sense leadership
The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of common sense leadership and the need to eradicate toxic leadership. It stresses the significance of leaders using their logic-based thinking brain to make sound decisions that prioritize the welfare and success of their teams. By encouraging leaders to use common sense, practice effective decision-making, and foster a positive climate, future tragedies and negative outcomes can be prevented and teams can thrive.
Pete Blaber commanded at every level of one of the most elite counter-terrorist organizations in the world, The US Army’s First Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta. His time with The Unit included most of recent history’s significant military and political events (Panama, Colombia, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq). In 2006 Pete retired from the military and transitioned from leading elite combat teams around the globe, to leading elite corporate teams for one of the world's largest and most innovative Biotech Companies.
Pete’s first book “The Mission, The Men, And Me, Lessons From a Former Delta Force Commander,” is one of the most widely read books among tactical units and is required reading at many tactical leadership programs. His second book, “The Common Sense Way, A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing" which builds on the legacy of the first book providing specific and concrete guidance on how to implement common sense into your leadership style. His third, and most recent book “Common Sense Leadership Matters: Toxic Leadership Destroys” is a case study of the death of Pat Tillman and how Toxic Leadership led to Tillman’s death at the hands of friendly fire.
Pete has an MBA and an MS in National Security and Strategic Affairs.
I am excited to speak to Pete not only because he lead one of the most elite combat units, but because he is a very deep thinker on the topic of leadership and has a unique ability to articulate his lessons learned and his research in a very practical and down to earth fashion. I hope you enjoy my chat with Pete Blaber.