(Picture: Extreme Ownership, book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin)
Strategy 4 Saturday Blog (<4 minute read)
Traveling to meet with several clients over the past couple of weeks, in the strategic venn diagram of People, Process, and Systems, People has been the dominant topic preventing change in their companies. As I was not traveling this week, I was able to catch a glimpse of Extreme Ownership, the book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin at the top of my bookshelf, sitting right next to Good to Great by Jim Collins. There’s a reason why it’s up there. In this extraordinary book, the authors, two former Navy SEALs, discuss the key leadership principles needed to lead an organization. Over the next two weeks, I will highlight these key principles, and why you should consider applying them.
What sets this book apart is how they compare military strategy and tactics to corporate and organizational change. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it.
(By the way, Leif or Jocko, or if anyone is connected to them, let them know I’d love to have them as guests on the Measure Success Podcast!)
A common misunderstanding from this book is the concept of “Extreme Ownership.” People often think it means Command and Control. But that’s not what it’s about. Let’s explore the first four of the eight key principles of Extreme Ownership.
1- Discipline Equals Freedom
If you follow Jocko Willink, he will post a picture of his watch around 4:30 AM working out. His discipline is consistent. He wakes up early and starts his day with intense exercise.
Discipline allows us to get more done because it helps us stay focused and avoid distractions. According to Harvard Business Review, discipline is the most important skill for success, yet many people struggle with it. Building good habits is essential for developing discipline. Over time, these habits help create the freedom to focus on what matters most.
2- Decentralized Command
This principle may seem contradictory at first, given the title Extreme Ownership. It doesn’t mean micromanaging or controlling everything yourself. Instead, it’s about empowering others to lead and take ownership of their areas.
Throughout the history of U.S. military warfare, decentralized command has been critical to overcoming challenges and achieving success, even when the situation is unclear. Similarly, in business, decentralized leadership allows teams to make quick decisions and keep moving forward, avoiding costly delays in decision-making.
Organizations face critical decisions every day. Indecisiveness can lead to losses. Having a decentralized command allows organizations to make decisions swiftly, ensuring they can keep up with demands and stay competitive.
3- Prioritize and Execute
This is a major principle we follow in the CAPTAIN strategy methodology. The idea is simple: when faced with multiple priorities, focus on what’s most important and take action.
We recommend evaluating potential actions based on their likelihood of success and their impact. Prioritization helps you focus on what truly matters and execute effectively. Without prioritizing, teams get overwhelmed by too many tasks and lose sight of what’s essential.
4- Cover and Move
This is a team-based strategy, where one part of the team provides cover while the other moves forward. It’s about mutual support. Teams, departments, and individuals must work together, helping each other to achieve a shared organizational goal. Silos are dangerous in business because they limit collaboration. The best teams cover for one another’s weaknesses and advance together.
Part I Conclusion
These first four principles—Discipline Equals Freedom, Decentralized Command, Prioritize and Execute, and Cover and Move—are essential for building a successful organization. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore the remaining four principles of Extreme Ownership.
(Picture: Proud parent moment))
PS – Proud parent moment. Watching two of our kids on ESPN+ at the same time on Friday night. The Navy Sprint team won and the TCU Horned Frogs women soccer team won the Big 12 regular season championship.
(Picture: $4M Strategies Logo)
Next Week’s Podcast Schedule:
$4M Strategies Podcast Topic: People Hiring
$4M Strategies: Topic People
- Mon, 10/28 – Don Lindsey
- Tues, 10/29 – Mark S Lewis
- Weds, 10/30 – Mateo Bervejillo
- Thurs, 10/31 – Laura Couvillon
- Fri, 11/1 – Carl J. Cox
- Tues, 10/29 – Alex Rawlings
- Thurs, 10/31 – James Brackin IV (re-release)
