Chris Brennan: Leadership Lessons from the Australian SAS Regiment - Ep. 113

Chris Brennan served for 15 years in the Australian Army, 11 of which were as an operator within the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).

He fulfilled multiple team specialist roles, including as a JTAC and Tandem Bundle Master within a Freefall Assault Team, before progressing into leadership roles as a team 2IC and culminating his career as an SASR Team Leader.

Chris deployed on multiple occasions and spent two years as a specialist trainer and assessor in the SASR's selection and training squadron.

He assisted in the design and implementation of high-risk training for new members undergoing the SASR reinforcement cycle, as well as assisting in the delivery of team-leading packages to
those undergoing progression into tactical leadership functions.

Upon transitioning from the Australian Defence Force, Chris completed his Master of Business degree through the University of New South Wales, which provided academic backing to his lived experiences within the SASR.

As a result, Chris founded OMADA Performance Concepts, a high–performance team consultancy. Through OMADA, he now delivers specialised Team Development solutions, Team Leadership packages, and Instructor Development programs for critical response teams operating in high-risk environments.

More about Chris:

Website: www.omadapc.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omada.performance.concepts/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brennan-991215353/

Timestamps:

00:00:21 Introduction to Chris Brennan

00:01:41 Brennan’s Career in the Australian SAS

00:04:05 Unit Supporters' Success in the U.S.

00:05:39 Hardest Part of Selection

00:07:16 Testing Standards

00:09:17 Quick Note: Mental and Emotional Demands of Selection

00:10:14 Freefall Rules

00:11:19 Jumping Bundles

00:12:24 Working as an Instructor

00:13:21 What Makes a Student Stand Out in the Reinforcement Cycle?

00:14:51 Evaluating Attributes

00:21:24 Cultural Fit

00:24:44 Team Gear, My Gear, Me

00:25:25 Training Other Team Leaders

00:26:03 What Makes an Effective Team Leader?

00:31:02 Tom Satterly and the Hot Wash

00:35:55 Staying Focused on Things You Can Change

00:39:17 Founding Omada

00:44:40 Applying Previous Experiences 

00:51:37 Future Plans for Omada

00:53:36 Working for Omada

00:54:06 One Book that Everyone Should Read

00:58:09 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 

00:59:48 Contact Chris Brennan

01:00:37 Outro