David McDonald’s Post

I just finished Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, and highly recommend it as a practical leadership guide. Drawing from their experiences as SEAL officers in the battle of Ramadi, Iraq, the authors present key leadership principles like "Cover and Move" and "Prioritize and Execute," using real battlefield scenarios to illustrate how these lessons can be applied to business. The core idea of "extreme ownership" stresses that leaders must take full responsibility for their team's outcomes, which fosters accountability and stronger teamwork. Willink and Babin’s straightforward, actionable advice focuses on critical leadership skills, such as decision-making under pressure and effective communication. While some points may seem repetitive, the blend of military and business insights makes this an essential read for leaders looking to improve their effectiveness and strengthen their teams. #ExtremeOwnership #Leadership #Teamwork #JockoWillink #LeifBabin #SEALLeadership #Accountability #BusinessLeadership #PrioritizeAndExecute #DecisionMaking #TeamBuilding #LeadershipDevelopment #MustRead #LeadershipSkills #MilitaryToBusiness #EffectiveLeadership

Navy SEALs are known for their exceptional teamwork and leadership skills. But, as Alden Mills, a successful CEO and three-time SEAL Platoon Commander, pointed out in our Partnering Leadership conversation, not everything that works for the SEALs transfers seamlessly to the civilian world. In fact, Alden argues that leading in the civilian world can be even more challenging than leading a platoon of Navy SEALs. However, there are crucial leadership elements that do translate, and one of the most essential is trust. 🤝 In the SEALs, team members have unwavering faith in each other because they train relentlessly to build that trust. They know that their lives depend on it. While in the civilian world, team members' lives might not depend on each other, the success of the team and the organization certainly does. 💡 And this lack of deep trust is a challenge I see in many teams, including leadership teams of organizations. I see low trust resulting in a lack of alignment and ineffective execution. Don't assume that trust among your team is a 10 out of 10! 😉 Where would you put trust among your team members on a scale of 0-10? How would they rate their trust for and in each other? In most teams and organizations, people's lives don't depend on trusting each other, however, 👉 organizational alignment and effective execution do! What are you doing to continually build greater trust among your team members? #partneringleadership #leadership Strategic Leadership Ventures #trust #strategy #management #culture #collaboration #trust #alignment

What's the most powerful phrase for any leader? "What do you recommend?" When you hear this story about L. David Marquet, you'll understand why the third crucial leadership behavior in our series is Raise Expectations. Marquet took command of the USS Santa Fe, the worst-performing submarine in the Navy, on very short notice. With little time to learn the ins and outs of the ship—and lives at stake—he took a unique approach for a Navy Commander: Instead of giving orders, he started asking his crew "What do you recommend?" This simple shift empowered his team to think critically, take ownership, and become more independent. By raising expectations and trusting his crew's expertise, Marquet transformed the Santa Fe into the Navy's highest-performing vessel. As leaders, when we raise expectations, we unlock potential by signaling our belief in our team's capabilities. This inspires them to rise to the challenge and often exceed what they thought possible. How are you raising expectations in your organization? #Leadership #Accountability #GrowthMindset #RaiseExpectations #ExecutiveCoaching _____________ I'm Mark Green. I coach, write and speak to help growth-minded leaders unlock more of their potential and learn how to do the same for their teams. Connect with me for straight talk, practical insights, and actionable tools. Click my name + follow + 🔔

Mission-Driven Mastery – The Power of Purpose Teamwork like Air Force pilots, a Marine unit, or Navy SEALs isn't just about the mission—it's our identity. Every operation embodies a commitment to a greater cause. That's camaraderie. That's purpose. That's the heart of a combat unit. As a leader, imagine transferring that purpose to your team. Imagine the performance you can get from not only your “A” players, but your “B” players when they know their purpose. Engaged employees can boost performance by 40%. That’s how good leadership can power your team to peak performance. What are you doing to enhance your leadership? Looking for a speaker at your next event: Full Throttle Leadership – Powering Teams for Peak Performance https://lnkd.in/gW_bZibV #fullthrottleleadership #peakperformance #positiveleadership #executivetraining #leadershiptraining #leadershipdevelopment #motivationalspeaker

I just finished another book that I highly recommend: “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win,” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. This book, and corresponding workbook, are ideal for anyone really, whether you’re a leader, an aspiring leader, and/or want to achieve success in any capacity. Jocko and Leif outline the principles learned from their Navy Seal experience and apply them in ways that almost all of us can understand and relate to. Key Takeaways: - Take ownership of all aspects of your life and work - Accept responsibility for outcomes - Lead by example - Communicate effectively - Prioritize team success over individual ego Key Themes: Accountability, discipline, decisiveness, and humility in leadership #leadership #growth #accountability #neverstoplearning #ownership #extremeownership #echelonfront

A leader I’ve always been inspired by: Former Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink. Here are 3 leadership tips I’ve learned from him: 1. Leaders must take full responsibility for their team’s actions and outcomes. Blaming others or external factors is not acceptable. 2. Discipline in all aspects of life leads to freedom and greater opportunities. Consistent discipline helps achieve goals and overcome obstacles. 3. “Cover and Move” This is a foundational military tactic that emphasizes teamwork and mutual support. In the context of leadership… It means working together and supporting each other to accomplish the mission. Have you read any of Jocko’s books?

Currently diving into Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. As someone with a deep respect for the U.S. Navy SEALs, I'm fascinated by their leadership principles. Even in the early chapters, I'm already learning invaluable lessons. "The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame." This powerful statement resonates with me. Taking full responsibility for both successes and failures is essential for growth and improvement. See the book here: https://heyor.ca/iPygB1 #Leadership #NavySeals #ExtremeOwnership

𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐒𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐃? 🤔 Let me explain. When you study the lives of notable military commanders, a common thread emerges: they all had a unique way of connecting with their people. Take Robert E. Lee, who made it a point to visit his soldiers at their campsites the night before a major battle. Or Napoleon, who knew every one of his officers by name, where they lived, and which battles they fought. Impressive, right? So, what does this mean for today’s leaders? 💡 It’s about being intentional with your time. Make yourself available to your team. Learn their names, know their stories, and show appreciation for their efforts. When you pass by a team member, slow down, greet them, and express your gratitude. When leaders genuinely connect with their people, they inspire loyalty and commitment that knows no bounds. 👉 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚? 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢? 💥𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽! See how our training has helped others, visit: https://bit.ly/2QhRAIr For tips and motivation follow, #theloueverettgroup #theloueverettgroup #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching #TeamBuilding #IntentionalLeadership

How Does a Strong Team Identity Benefit Leaders and Teams? In this video, I talk with Ewen Murchison DSO MBE, former Major General in the Royal Marines, and reflect on the dual benefits of building a strong shared identity within a team—for both team members and leaders. Jeremy explains: “As a leader, there are moments when you're away from your team, navigating complex challenges and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders. If your organisation has invested in creating a strong shared identity, it doesn’t just support your team—it supports you as a leader, too.” 💡 How can a strong team identity help you tackle high-pressure leadership challenges? Explore this and more at The Identity Edge Masterclass, designed to help leaders build teams that perform under pressure. 📅 Date: 21 January 2025 📍 Location: The In & Out Naval and Military Club, St James' Square, London, SW1Y 4JU 🎟️ Register now: https://buff.ly/3OK5Bt4 . . . . . #Leadership #TeamIdentity #HighPerformanceTeams #IdentityEdge #masterclass #centreforteamexcellence

If you're looking for structure, accountability, and high performance from your team. Read "Extreme Ownership - How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win" written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.   Not only did it help me shape my team to perform at the highest level, it also taught me valuable leadership skills; such as Humility and creating a Leadership Checklist:   ·       "...the humility to admit and own mistakes and develop a plan to overcome them is essential to success." (pg. 8) ·       Analyze, Identify, Decentralize, Course of Action, Empower, Plan for Contingencies, Mitigate Risks, Delegate, Checking-In, Communicating Out, and Debriefing (pg. 207) #ExtremeOwnership #Leadership #Discipline #SupportOurMilitary