234: Jocko Willink - Why Discipline Equals Freedom

6 snips

Dec 4, 2017

Jocko Willink, retired Navy SEAL officer and leadership author, shares hard-earned lessons from combat and years teaching discipline. He discusses humility versus ego in teams. He recounts the Ramadi friendly-fire incident and why owning mistakes builds trust. He explains decentralized command, waking early, and how disciplined habits create freedom.

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INSIGHT

Humility Drives Continuous Improvement

Humility is the foundational trait that keeps leaders improving and receptive to feedback.
Jocko Willink says humble leaders don't rest on laurels and actively seek ways to get better.

ANECDOTE

Mutiny Over Ego And The Humble Replacement

Jocko describes a platoon commander with a huge ego who forced his way and caused a mutiny that removed him.
The replacement was humble, asked for input, and motivated the team to perform better.

ANECDOTE

Taking Ownership After Friendly Fire

In Ramadi friendly forces mistakenly engaged each other causing wounds and a death in a chaotic firefight.
Jocko took full ownership as the senior leader and presented fixes, which increased his boss's trust.

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Show Notes:

Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence:
- Humility
- Constantly looking to improve
- Learning
- Willing and able to take criticism
Incredible story of a mutiny within the ranks because of a platoon commander's ego
Way Of The Warrior Kid - The message for children
- Be humble
- Don't give up
- Work hard
Ramadi -- The epicenter, insurgency in Iraq
- The confusion/fog of war
A firefight... Between friendly forces: Who's at fault?
Jocko took ownership - "As the leader, I'm responsible for everything that happens on that field. It wasn't your fault, it's mine."
"If you make a mistake, you must own it."
Owning the mistakes created confidence and trust with Jocko's boss
How do you handle a bad boss?
- Make them look good
- Ask for feedback, advice, ask for their approval, build them up
- Isn't that manipulation? "Yes..."
"It's not just what you preach, it's what you tolerate."
Decentralized command -- Empowering junior leaders to make important decisions. Front line leaders must be empowered. Why? Speed
- Being empowered as a quarterback to call an audible -- Why this was an optimal way for us to attack a defense and ultimately win games. The coaches needed to trust and empower me to do this
Are leaders born or made?
Characteristics of great leaders?
- They take complex things and simplify them
- They are articulate
- They are loud (seems strange, but it's true for military leaders and a quarterback)
How much can you learn? You must detach emotion, and be decisive.
Why wake up at 4:30 am? "It is time for me to own, it's before everyone else is awake"
Favorite part of work? - Podcasting and working with companies
How has Jocko created this lifestyle? -- Many years of consistent, sustained work
- "Discipline Equals Freedom."
His discipline for many years has helped him create a lifestyle that he loves

"It's not just what you preach. It's what you tolerate."

Social Media:

Read: Extreme Ownership
See why over 150,000 people follow Jocko on Twitter: @jockowillink
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12