The Cove Podcast Principles of leadership for 10 or 10,000 with MAJ GEN Stephen Day DSC AM
Mar 8, 2026
Major General Stephen Day DSC AM, senior Australian Army leader and author of the ADF Leadership Doctrine. He discusses leadership as character over mere competence. Short takes cover moral courage, decision-making under pressure, followership, disciplined initiative, building trust fast, and balancing mission, team and self.
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Iraq Was The Toughest Leadership Test
- Iraq was Day's hardest leadership experience with around 1,000 killed and 4,000 wounded during his time.
- He described the stress of losing many people and many civilian deaths, explaining why war was the toughest competition.
Praise Moral Courage Publicly And Quickly
- Recognise and publicly praise moral courage and integrity immediately and locally.
- Day stresses that simple public acknowledgement by an immediate leader boosts soldier confidence more than formal awards.
Doctrine Recentered Character Development
- Character had drifted from doctrine and training, often outsourced to chaplains, weakening institutional emphasis.
- Day wrote the doctrine to refocus leaders on owning character development rather than relying solely on Padres or external providers.