Just when you thought we were complete with Jocko’s 4 laws of combat and leadership, I am here to exceed expectations and provide the final 2 and a summary from the notepad.com
Now on to lesson Number 5!
In Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual, Jocko Willink compares two of his Platoon Commanders early in his career as a SEAL. One of them wanted complete ownership over planning. The other allowed his reports to do the planning but he would review it.
The leader that wanted complete ownership over planning couldn’t detach from his own plans. He couldn’t take a higher-level look at it. He would blame others when things went wrong: the plan was poorly executed or there were outside factors.
Because they did the planning, the reports felt ownership over it and were more motivated to execute it properly during a mission.
The leadership lesson?
Find a way to detach from your plan.
Step away from your drafts. Have someone else review your outlines. If you’re leading others, remember that their feeling of ownership is important.
You’ll always have that feeling because you have other people looking to you to lead. Find opportunities for them to reinforce their own feelings of ownership.
