EP 43: Building Sangfroid with EM BASIC

In 'Turn the Ship Around! ', Captain L. David Marquet recounts his experience as the commander of the USS Santa Fe, a nuclear-powered submarine. Initially trained in the traditional 'know all–tell all' leadership model, Marquet faced significant challenges when he took command of the Santa Fe, which was then one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet. He realized that the traditional leader-follower approach was ineffective and decided to implement a leader-leader model, where every crew member was empowered to take responsibility and make decisions. This approach led to a dramatic improvement in morale, performance, and retention, transforming the Santa Fe into one of the best submarines in the fleet. The book provides practical insights and strategies for implementing this leadership model in various organizational settings.

Gary Klein's "Sources of Power" explores how people make decisions in complex, real-world situations. It challenges traditional models of decision-making, emphasizing the importance of experience, intuition, and mental simulation. The book highlights the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, which describes how experts quickly recognize patterns and make effective decisions under pressure. Klein's research draws on observations of firefighters, military commanders, and other professionals, demonstrating how expertise is developed and applied in high-stakes environments. The book offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to improve their decision-making skills.

The Lean Startup introduces a revolutionary approach to building and scaling businesses, emphasizing continuous innovation, customer feedback, and scientific experimentation. Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. The book advocates for 'validated learning,' rapid experimentation, and the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop to shorten product development cycles and measure actual progress. It also stresses the importance of pivoting or persevering based on data and customer needs, making it an essential read for anyone involved in starting or growing a business.