234: Jocko Willink - Why Discipline Equals Freedom

The Learning Leader Show

"As the leader, you are responsible for EVERYTHING that happens in your organization."

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