Podcast appearances and mentions of Stanley A Mcchrystal

Ron Adner is the leading strategy thinker on the topic of business ecosystems. He is the author of The Wide Lens: What Successful Innovators See that Others Miss and a new book, Winning the Right Game: How to Disrupt, Defend, and Deliver in a Changing World. Ron shares important insights on the language of strategic alignment to help you navigate the new world of coalitions and ecosystems. If your new value proposition requires rewiring your relationships - you're in an ecosystem where there is interdependence. It takes a new language to teach new strategies, and the rewards can be great. Listen in to see if you should be shifting your perspective.   Key Takeaways [2:10] Much of what Ron writes is on how to think about innovation and make sure you are doing the right work. He stresses efficient, effective action. [3:24] What kind of shifts will disrupt your ecosystem? Modern disruptions change the ecosystem, for example, making a change in how healthcare is delivered and changing the boundaries of industries. [7:11] The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the work ecosystem. It's a virus; it's supposed to stay in its healthcare box. It broke through boundaries to affect international relations, trade, supply chains, and more. An ecosystem disruption requires an ecosystem response. Ron shares a link for listeners to read Chapter 1 of his book, for free, to learn about the challenge we are all facing. [10:45] In 95% of conversations where people use the word “ecosystem,” you could substitute the word “mishmash,” with no loss of meaning. Ron claims there is a lack of structured thinking about ecosystems. He shares a specific definition of ecosystem, and how it connects to whether or not your new value proposition requires rewiring relationships. [12:53] Hans Rosling wrote in Factfulness about the secondary and tertiary effects of the globally important decisions we make. Ron says people can't confidently discuss third-order consequences. His work is built on the structure of interdependence; understanding the system that is implied by a value proposition. Think about the structure of the system that needs to come together for the proposition. [16:35] Ron believes that if we can think more broadly about the set of parties we are going to interact with, a lot of things become easier to see. It requires flexibility and true empathy for the counterparty's position. [18:36] When writing his book, Ron discovered that the structure of interdependence is changing. It's necessary to know what the changes are. In Jack Welch's GE, it was clear what the industry was and easy to rank who was number one. Today, all sorts of parties are on the same game board playing different games. Choose the game you want to win! Winning the wrong game can feel a lot like losing. [21:05] Meeting the clients' needs better than the competition was the traditional execution lens and it is still needed. But is that all that's needed? Is your ability to deliver on that promise entirely within your capability set, or are you going to be relying on other parties and partners to do something to enable you to deliver, not your product or service, but the value proposition that you're making? [22:50] Is it better to follow the traditional execution of the value proposition? It depends on whether you have easy access to the abilities and resources needed to deliver on that proposition. If not, you need an ecosystem of partners that can do something to enable you to deliver on the value proposition. And you need to put them on the same pedestal to maintain the value proposition. [23:45] Ron shares a case study from Michelin, and their run-flat tire. They didn't invest enough in their service garage partners and the product collapsed. Critical partners are just as important to strategize for as your end consumers. [24:50] Jan cites Steve Justice, former program director for Lockheed Martin, saying, “You've got to stand in the future. And if people are laughing at you, you know you're far enough out there, that you're standing in the future.” [25:48] Ron suggests asking, “What do we need to get there?”, “Who do we need to get there?”, “How do you align them?” He explains the differences between a project and an ecosystem. In an ecosystem, your partners may not know that you're planning to rely on them. In a project, everyone knows who the manager is. In an ecosystem, there is no hierarchy of authority. You rely on strategic alignment. [28:48] An ecosystem that's functioning well is one that's in balance. [29:42] Chapter 6 of Winning the Right Game is an attempt to understand what individual leadership means when you're playing in the ecosystem game. There is a distinction between the execution mindset required to succeed in a setting where the leader puts his organization first, and the alignment mindset required to align different organizations into an ecosystem coalition, putting the coalition first. [33:27] Jim refers to Joseph Pine and James Gilmore's concept of the experience economy, where the experience, not the service, is the greater value proposition. Ron talks about Amazon and Alexa's value proposition for the smart home and how they surpassed Apple, Google, and Microsoft to lead in smart homes, and how Tesla surpassed GM in electric cars. [37:25] Some leaders can't make the jump from leading others to leading the organization. Ron says there are different categories of leaders. We need execution people in industries. For others, building coalitions comes more naturally. Most of us are not at the top of the organization. Ron describes a mindset that is helpful for middle executives in choosing the projects they want to be in. [41:22] The language of strategy is inadequate for today's tasks. Ron suggests using the chapters of Winning the Right Game to communicate what underlies your strategy. Use the new language of strategic alignment to educate the people below and above you in the organization. [46:04] Ron summarizes. Chunks of the world operate in an industry mindset. Chunks of the world are shifting toward an ecosystem situation. First, figure out what side of the world you are in. Use the industry toolbox for industry. If your opportunity relies on a new set of collaborators and a new mode of collaboration, use the new ecosystem strategic alignment toolbox. If you get it right, rewards are great. [50:02] Jim invites listeners to visit theleadershippodcast.com and closes with a Stanley A. McChrystal quote that leaders should be like gardeners, creating and maintaining a viable ecosystem in which the organization operates.   Quotable Quotes “The key in a difficult world is efficient, effective action.” “Classic disruption … was a study of identifying substitute threats while they were still off the radar. … All that disruption was really a technology substitution.” “When I talk about an ecosystem disruption, it's this disruption that doesn't change the technology within a given box. It changes the boundaries that used to define these boxes that we can think of as traditional industries. That, I think, is what we're seeing, more and more.” “An ecosystem response is one where a coalition of actors is pulled together. ” “When I talk about an ecosystem, I have a very specific definition in mind. … It's the structure through which partners interact to deliver a value proposition to an end consumer.” “The ecosystem, then, is anchored not in any given actor, not in a firm, but in a value proposition and the structure through which multiple partners interact.” “Whenever you have a value proposition that requires a rewiring of relationships, that's when you're moving into this ecosystem world, which, I will argue, requires a new strategy toolbox to draw from.” “When you have a new proposition that doesn't require rewiring [relationships], you don't need to worry about this ecosystem stuff. You can go back toward traditional tools.” “Your challenge is not just winning but choosing the game you want to win. The threat, of course, is that you can win the wrong game, and winning the wrong game can feel a lot like losing.” “Can you execute in a traditional execution way, or do you need to rely on an ecosystem? Why do we see firms relying on partners? It's because they don't have easy access to the capabilities or the resources.” “How is it that great people are succeeding in one setting and being less successful in the other?” “In the real world, if you're in a room and you're the only person with the right answer, you're totally useless. Your job is to get everybody else to the right answer, and that requires language.” “It's not saying there's a new world order or everything has changed. It's saying some things have changed and perhaps you're in a situation that might be different but it doesn't mean everything is.”   Resources Mentioned Theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by: Darley.com Ron Adner Ron Adner on LinkedIn Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College The Wide Lens: What Successful Innovators See that Others Miss, by Ron Adner Winning the Right Game: How to Disrupt, Defend, and Deliver in a Changing World, by Ron Adner Clay Christensen Canon Nucor U. S. Steel Southwest Airlines MinuteClinic® CVS COVID-19 Chapter 1 of Winning the Right Game Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, by Hans Rosling Stanley A. McChrystal Winning: The Ultimate Business How-To Book, by Jack Welch with Suzy Welch Jack Welch Steve Justice Lockheed Martin Jim Collins: Level 5 Leader Look: A Practical Guide for Improving Your Observational Skills, by James H. Gilmore The Experience Economy, by Joseph Pine and James H. Gilmore Disney Starbucks Amazon Alexa Tesla GM What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, by Marshall Goldsmith with Mark Reiter Michael Port Malcolm Gladwell  

This is the final episode of the DODReads: What are you Reading? podcast. Thank you for listening! In Episode 63, host Tim Bettis interviews General Stanley McChrystal, USA (Ret.) on risk, learning from history, and the importance of language skills. General McChrystal is an Army Ranger who led Joint Special Operations Command and Commanded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and United States Forces - Afghanistan before his retirement in 2010. He is the Founder of the McChrystal Group and is a senior fellow at Yale's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Check out his newest book - Risk: A User's Guide. As always, head to DODReads.com for more resources, free books, and interviews with military authors. The views presented in this episode are those of the participants and do not reflect the views of the Department of Defense or its components.

Today on the podcast, Bradley is sharing the best of the best from 2021! You'll hear highlights from... Episode 42: Mark Blackburn: Mark was the recipient of the 2020 PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year. In that episode, we talked about: The importance of having a growth mindset , how humble beginnings are drivers for achievement, every player is like their own business, everyone has their own process and intervention only comes in two opportunities, why using critical thinking to work through everything is so crucial, how to customize solutions for each of your team members Episode 44: Jeremy Olson and Kristen Isaacson: Growing any business to over a million dollars is no small feat. Growing an insurance agency to over $40 million is something else entirely. Our guests today, Jeremy Olson and Kristin Isaacson of The Olson Agency, are no strangers to exceeding industry standards. The pair are known to value the importance of role play in their businesses and fully embracing a growth mindset. Their tenacity and commitment to investing in their team have allowed them to become a leader in the insurance agency business. Jeremy and Kristin drop some incredible insider's knowledge in this episode that you won't want to miss. Episodes 47 & 48 with Thomas Ntuk: If you have a difficult time explaining concepts and sales strategies to your team, give this week and next week's episodes a listen. On today's show, we have the pleasure of interviewing Thomas Ntuk, also known as the Sales Simplification Guru, in a special two part interview.  Episode 49 with Future Legacy Partners: How are you solving problems with the members on your team? Whether you're a leader or a team member, the willingness to address a problem and solve it together is key. On our show this week, we're discussing how to develop your team members with Future Legacy partners Krista Hawkins and Wendy Smith. Episode 55 with Mike Michalowicz: What if you could guarantee that growth in your business would last? Mike Michalowicz has developed a strategy to do just that over the course of his time selling two multi-million dollar businesses and now leading two new multi-million dollar ventures. Episode 69 with David Peterson: Hear David break down intentionally developing your team including: His system of implementation for development, why he prefers specialization for each area of insurance sales, why he believes in “running of the plays” from his playbook for insurance sales, and the importance of spending 15-30 minutes daily to review applicants or court team members to find the best recruits possible.  Episode 72 with Josh Fuller: Josh Fuller talks about growing your business through best practices borrowed from multiple sources. He has had the opportunity to work in multiple spheres as an entrepreneur throughout his career, and has gained a lot of great experiences and insights along the way. He specifically has been able to successfully jump on opportunities as they arose throughout his work to find new success. Episode 75 with Randy Thompson: Wondering how to recruit “first round draft picks” for your team?  On this podcast, Randy Thompson shares how to find, train, and compensate the best people for your team. He also shares the three intrinsic qualities he looks for in prospective team members. These include honesty, a kind heart, and a strong work ethic. Episode 78 with General Stanley McChrystal: Retired four-star general Stanley A. McChrystal has lived a life associated with the deadly risks of combat. He was once called “one of America's greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. From his first day at West Point, to his years in Afghanistan, to his efforts helping business leaders navigate a global pandemic, McChrystal has seen how individuals and organizations fail to mitigate risk. Why? Because they focus on the...

Retired four-star general Stanley A. McChrystal has lived a life associated with the deadly risks of combat. He was once called “one of America's greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. From his first day at West Point, to his years in Afghanistan, to his efforts helping business leaders navigate a global pandemic, McChrystal has seen how individuals and organizations fail to mitigate risk. Why? Because they focus on the probability of something happening instead of the interface by which it can be managed. He is a transformational leader with a remarkable record of achievement. General McChrystal is widely praised for launching a revolution in warfare by leading a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that fused intelligence and operations, redefining the way military and government agencies interact. In this episode, General McChrystal shares lessons learned over the course of his extensive career and shares leadership nuggets of wisdom.  He is the author of the bestselling leadership books, My Share of the Task, Team of Teams, Leaders, and his latest book Risk: A User's Guide which we dive into today. In Risk: A User's Guide, General McChrystal offers a battle-tested system for detecting and responding to risk. Instead of defining risk as a force to predict, McChrystal and coauthor Anna Butrico show that there are in fact ten dimensions of control we can adjust at any given time. By closely monitoring these controls, we can maintain a healthy Risk Immune System that allows us to effectively anticipate, identify, analyze, and act upon the ever-present possibility that things will not go as planned. Be sure to listen to this powerful episode, and grab your copy of his latest book off of Amazon! Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Users-Guide-Stanley-McChrystal/dp/0593192206

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius sits down with retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his co-author Anna Burtrico to discuss their new book, “Risk: A User's Guide."

For most leaders, failure is not a matter of life or death. But for some, making life-or-death decisions is part of the job. What can high-risk decision-making teach us about the more ordinary and conventional risk leaders assume every day? What roles do preparation and instinct play in this process? How can leaders become better at conquering a fear of failure in order to make hard decisions? In this episode, Host Gautam Mukunda speaks about risk and high-stake decision-making with two remarkable individuals who have spent their lives doing the impossible in the face of enormous danger. General Stan McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former Head of Joint Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, and the founder and CEO of the McCrystal Group. Alex Honnold is a professional adventure rock climber, who is known for his free solo ascents, most notably El Capitán as documented in the movie Free Solo. “The more often you encounter the unexpected, the more comfortable you feel with the unexpected in general. You can prepare as much as you can, but you kind of know that some random thing is always going to go sideways, but then the more often that you encounter those kinds of sideways challenges and manage them… I think you build some confidence to just know that when a situation arises you'll figure it out quickly” — Alex Honnold “Nothing helps innovation like necessity.”         — General Stan McChrystal Follow @GMukunda on Twitter or email us at WorldReimagined@nasdaq.com   Books Referenced: Alone on the Wall, by Alex Honnold Risk: A User's Guide by Stanley A. McChrystal and Anna Butrico Expert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know? by Philip E. Tetlock The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe   Guest Info: Alex Honnold is a professional rock climber whose audacious free-solo ascents of America's biggest cliffs have made him one of the most recognized and followed climbers in the world. A gifted but hard-working athlete, Honnold is distinguished for his uncanny ability to control his fear while scaling cliffs of dizzying heights without a rope to protect him if he falls. His humble, self-effacing attitude toward such extreme risk has earned him the nickname Alex “No Big Deal” Honnold. This Sacramento, California-native's most celebrated achievements include the first and only free-solos of the Moonlight Buttress (5.12d, 1,200 feet) in Zion National Park, Utah, and the Northwest Face (5.12a) of Half Dome (2,200 feet), Yosemite, California. In 2012 he achieved Yosemite's first “Triple Solo”: climbing, in succession, the National Park's three largest faces — Mt. Watkins, Half Dome, and El Capitan — alone, and in under 24 hours. In 2017 Alex completed the first and only free-solo of El Capitan's “Freerider” route (5.13a, 3,000 feet), a historic accomplishment that has been hailed by many as one of the greatest sporting achievements of our time. The story of this feat was told in the Academy Award-winning documentary, FREE SOLO. Whether climbing with a rope or without, Honnold believes climbing is a fantastic vehicle for adventure, an opportunity to seek out those high-test moments with uncertain outcomes in which you're forced to push through to survive. Though Honnold often downplays his achievements, his rope-less climbs have attracted the attention of a broad and stunned audience. He has been profiled by 60 Minutes and the New York Times, featured on the cover of National Geographic, appeared in international television commercials, and starred in numerous adventure films including the Emmy-nominated “Alone on the Wall.” He is the founder of the Honnold Foundation, an environmental non-profit.   General Stanley A. McChrystal is A transformational leader with a remarkable record of achievement, General Stanley A. McChrystal was called “one of America's greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He is widely praised for launching a revolution in warfare by leading a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that fused intelligence and operations, redefining the way military and government agencies interact. The son and grandson of Army officers, McChrystal graduated from West Point in 1976 as an infantry officer, completed Ranger Training, and later Special Forces Training. Over the course of his career, he held leadership and staff positions in the Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, 82 nd Airborne Division, the XVIII Army Airborne Corp, and the Joint Staff. He is a graduate of the US Naval War College, and he completed fellowships at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1997 and the Council on Foreign Relations in 2000. From 2003 to 2008, McChrystal commanded JSOC - responsible for leading the nations deployed military counterterrorism efforts around the globe. His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein and the 2006 location and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. In June 2009, McChrystal received his fourth star and assumed command of all international forces in Afghanistan. Since retiring from the military, McChrystal has served on several corporate boards of directors that include Deutsche Bank America, JetBlue Airways, Navistar, Siemens Government Technologies, Fiscal Note, and Accent Technologies. A passionate advocate for national service, McChrystal is the Chair of the Board of Service Year Alliance, which envisions a future in which a service year is a cultural expectation and common opportunity for every young American. He is a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches a course on leadership. Additionally, he is the author of the bestselling leadership books, My Share of the Task: A Memoir, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, and Leaders: Myth and Reality. General McChrystal founded the McChrystal Group in January 2011. Recognizing that companies today are experiencing parallels to what he faced in the war theater, McChrystal established this advisory services firm to help businesses challenge the hierarchical, “command and control” approach to organizational management.

“A deeply personal, powerfully insightful, and sometimes disturbingly candid account of command in combat by one of his generation's most thoughtful warrior-leaders. Jeff Schloesser captures the frustrating complexity of Afghanistan and the challenge of fighting America's longest war brilliantly. A must read for those who want to understand leadership in the toughest of environments.” -- Stanley A. McChrystal, U.S. Army, GEN (Ret.), Commander of US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan "Major General Jeff Schloesser has written a gripping account of his fifteen months commanding the 101st Airborne Division during the toughest days of America's long war in Afghanistan. Schloesser eloquently and candidly writes about being a senior commander at war, making decisions that likely will result in soldiers wounded and killed while simultaneously dealing with the political challenges of dealing with higher headquarters and senior echelons of the American, Afghan and Pakistani governments. Marathon War is compelling and honest, telling the story of men and leaders in battle, the 'filth and gore,' the camaraderie, and the impact of soldiers' absence on the families left behind—including his own. Jeff Schloesser was a great commander. This book makes clear why." -- Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011 "Marathon War transported me straight back to the year I spent learning to be a general officer from Major General Jeff Schloesser and his 101st Airborne team in Afghanistan. Jeff artfully recounts the story of people, places, and events to explore the challenges, complications, and responsibilities of leading counter insurgency operations on the other side of the world. You'll leave with a better understanding of both the choices and decisions that shaped our longest war and the human toll it took on the extraordinary men and women who fought it...and are still processing it." -- General Mike Holmes, USAF (ret.) "If you truly want to understand the nature of wartime leadership; the heartache, the elation, the fear, the sense of frustration and the great pride of leading America's men and women in combat, then you must read Jeff Schloesser's Marathon War. No one tells the story better." -- Admiral Bill McRaven, Former Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command

In this episode of The Interview, Hugh replays a discussion he had with General McChrystal from June 2015 about a number of topics including his then newly-released book, "Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as we discuss our preparation for our interview with Stan McChrystal and Dan Pink - together - from 2-4pm EST on February 7th!  Now is your opportunity to let us know what you would like us to ask these thought leaders about the future of leadership and teams! Be sure to email your questions to: Info@TheLeadershipPodcast.com. The interview will livestream on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/westudyleaders/.    Key Takeaways [1:55] The last two episodes were of Stan McChrystal and Dan Pink, so be sure to listen to them before Jim and Jan go live with these two speakers on February 7th. [2:35] Both speakers have very different backgrounds, with Stan being born into military life and Daniel coming from an academic/consulting world, but they both prioritized liberal arts, classical education, and philosophy. [5:20] Both men value self-discipline, which has allowed them to be successful in their respective fields. [7:50] Stan stated it best about what a leader does. A leader creates a common purpose and a trust. [10:15] For the February 7th interview, the live session will have three segments. The first section being similar to a podcast interview, the second segment will have Dan and Stan interviewing each other, and the third is left for your questions! [13:10] If you really want to understand the value you bring to the market, pay attention to the questions people ask you. [19:15] Jim and Jan can’t wait to see the dynamic, and how it will compare to the virtual interviews. [20:20] How can you tune in? They’ll be hosting this live on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/westudyleaders/.    Quotable Quotes “Leaders need to be squared away both mentally, physically, and emotionally.” “Both Stan McChrystal and Dan Pink realized at a young age, Boy, I’m not going to be able to influence other people if I’m not walking the walk.” “You need to be thinking about how different people influence your thinking over time.” “You can not have autonomy without trust.” “If I told you, you can’t go home until we win, what would you do differently?”   Send your questions for Dan and Stan to: Info@TheLeadershipPodcast.com   References Mcchrystalgroup.com Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley A. McChrystal DanPink.com The Leadership Podcast: Dan Pink The Leadership Podcast: Stan McChrystal The Leadership Podcast: Zack Baddorf   The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by:     Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today’s workforce. Get your free copy HERE.     Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.    ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners   The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They’re bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more?  You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast.   Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

This is an episode Jim and Jan have never done before! They are featuring a previous episode with General Stanley McChrystal because they will be interviewing the General along with author Dan Pink live on February 7th. After listening, let Jim and Jan know if you have questions you’d like them to ask Dan and Stan!    General Stanley McChrystal shares his thoughts and insights on leadership and service in the modern era. General McChrystal is the best selling author of Team of Teams, and Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The McChrystal group. He talks with Jim and Jan about the importance of a classical education, the sacrifice leaders must make in their lives, and why it’s up to the government and business to create challenging opportunities for the younger generation. He shares his unique perspective on the similarities and differences of leading and teaming in business and in the military. He concludes with his thoughts on national service, education, and his recipe for more constructive discourse.   Key Takeaways [1:20] There’s going to be some exciting live content with General Stanley McChrystal and Dan Pink this February 7th! Do not miss it! [2:55] Jim and Jan offer their thoughts and insights after listening to this episode for the second time. [6:15] Regarding millennials, the talent is there! What’s different is that our community bonds have grown smaller and are more self-focused, making it difficult to find a clear path of how and where to make a contribution. [7:40] Although we are in a time where much service is needed from young people, only 30% of younger people in the United States are qualified and eligible to enlist in the military.  General McChrystal poses the thought of government and business sharing the responsibility to create opportunities for the other 70% of those that still have a desire to contribute. [8:40] The Civilian Conservation Corps of the Depression Era was a program created to give young men the opportunity to make money, earn confidence, and get a sense of self-satisfaction. Many of those men went on to serve in World War II. [9:25] General McChrystal feels it is his generation’s responsibility to create opportunities for youth through funding, education, and business. At the McChrystal group, they value service and community involvement. If you have completed a year of national service, your resume gets a more detailed review. [10:50] General McChrystal discussed how we must create an incentive for businesses to hire employees based on their potential and values — rather than just looking for professionals who already have the skills and need little training. [12:50] In addition to General McChrystal’s famous ascetic lifestyle, he is still learning, growing, and studying every day. [13:10] People skills and a strong work ethic as two of the benchmark qualities that make for a good business leader. [14:45] General McChrystal had preconceived notions of the business world, while his colleagues had assumptions about working with someone from the military. They both found out that in each world there are opportunities and challenges not so different. [15:45] His newest book due this fall 2018, Leaders: Myth and Reality, is inspired by Plutarch’s life and studies of notable people. They took the findings of this work and crafted it into modern-day profiles to compare leaders throughout history from all walks of life, and learn the nuances of different leadership styles. [17:50] In pairing founders and leaders, General McChrystal finds it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to success and fulfillment. He did find the common threads to be a commitment to the choice to lead and accept responsibility in an authentic and self-assured manner. [21:20] Possessing an absolute commitment and dedication to the cause comes at a cost. [23:50] Classical and liberal arts education that roots us in philosophy provides a common language that connects us both with our values and to each other. [24:30] James Stockdale, United States Navy vice admiral and prisoner of war for over seven years, was a strong proponent of a classical education as a way to connect us to ourselves and each other. [27:25] As politics pervade our culture, and the absence of civility rises, it is crucial to listen more and welcome different points of view. [28:30] We could benefit from thinking more long term and focus on building sustainable relationships that remain solid in the future. In a business world, that means treating your clients in a manner where long-term relationships are fostered. [33:00] People think demonstrations of courage are usually reserved for the battlefield, but it is beneficial to recognize it in the workplace, as well. [34:00] General McChrystal is a great believer in experiential leadership for individuals and groups. At The McChrystal Group, they offer adventures for the team to succeed, become familiar, and push one another. [36:50] The military uses its advantages of patriotism and extra time for training to shape them into leaders. On the battlefield, you need to make life or death decisions, where in business, there are laws and bureaucracies and it’s harder for people to be decisive. Oftentimes, businesses will skimp on or cancel their leadership development programs due to a lack of budget or manpower. [41:00] In an organization with timid leadership, they will see the problem and take a conservative approach while rationalizing to do very little, or not enough. Making strong decisions is like a muscle you must continue to work. [42:50] General McChrystal names the two biggest current security challenges we are facing in today’s climate: Education lagging behind the progress of the rest of the world. Inability to make rational political decisions. [49:00] As General McChrystal has a strong relationship with his grandchildren, he believes in balancing work with getting outside for adventure, continued education, and family.   Quotable Quotes We’ve got to create opportunities where people can do the kinds of service that gives them a sense of satisfaction and a challenge. Begin rewarding service in your home, school, and community. When you enter the military, nobody is already a soldier, airman, or marine. College doesn’t prepare you for what you are going to do, it prepares you to be prepared for what you are going to do. Everything is simple, but the simplest is difficult. Leadership is this complex weave of factors. Possessing an absolute commitment and dedication to the cause comes at a cost. Classical and liberal arts education that roots us in philosophy provides a common language that connects us both with our values; and to each other. It’s a willingness to sacrifice for the cause when they decide to lead. Strong leaders are themselves. Learn to think long-term. There’s got to be some long-term consequences for dishonesty. Do everything today to protect what you can do in the future. If you do something challenging with strangers, you rarely end up as strangers. It takes courage to make great decisions. When things get hard, it’s a time to show courage. Don’t promise to do more than you are willing to do. Leaders make decisions that others are reluctant to make.   Resources Mentioned McChrystal Group website Dan Pink Books Leaders: Myth and Reality, by Jason Mangone, Jeff Eggers, and Stanley A. McChrystal Team Of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley A. McChrystal My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by General Stanley A. McChrystal Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value, by Bill George Courage: The Backbone of Leadership, by Gus Lee with Diane Elliott-Lee   The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by:     Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. Attend a FREE webinar on GRIT - January 31st (register here).     Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.    ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners   The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They’re bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more?  You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast.   Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

When does it make sense to be an agile company? Jim and Jan discuss why being an agile company can work, but constant pivots can really hurt productivity. When does it make sense to be consistent, and when does it make sense to change direction? How often is too much? When is it OK to abandon a given direction/initiative? It depends on the core values, purpose, and vision - of all stakeholders. It has to be consistent with what drives innovation and commitment. Listen in to learn more!   News!  We made the Top 30 Leadership Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020!   Key Takeaways [4:55] We live in a world where being a flip-flopper is a bad thing, but why? Shouldn’t changing your mind when presented with new information be a good thing? [8:05] Look at things from three different perspectives — You as an individual, others/the team, and at the structural/organizational level. [10:15] We love intellectual consistency, but when we hold too much value in that, people get boxed in and that slows down decision making. [14:40] How would you define an effective leader? It depends on what the organization needs! [18:05] Why do startups need to pivot so frequently? It’s because they haven’t discovered their true value yet and do not have a firm hold on their market. [20:05] You want to remain consistent in your values and know firmly what value you give to your customer. [24:50] Dan Pink and General Stanley A. McChrystal will be appearing in an upcoming live show. Do you have any questions for them?   Quotable Quotes “Strengths in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people can derail leaders.” “As you get more information — more perspective, you eliminate assumptions and biases. You have the right to do that.” “You have to be squared away emotionally, physically, and mentally before you’re able to really lead others.” “We really value people who are intellectually consistent, but if you place too high a value on that, you can slow down decision making.”   Colin Powell The Crown — Netflix Show Dan Pink Books Team of Teams by General Stanley A. McChrystal   The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by:     Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today’s workforce. Get your free copy HERE.     Free downloads of Quick Reference Guides on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.    ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners   The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They’re bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more?  You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at The Leadership Podcast.   Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at BeyondTheUniform.org.

In Episode 307, Gary Liu, the chief executive officer of South China Morning Post (SCMP), joined us to discuss the vision and mission of the media outlet and offer his perspectives on media across Asia Pacific. We started with Gary sharing his career story and how he came to lead SCMP. He discuss the core audience of the media outlet and the new content and innovations that is driving the transformation of SCMP. Last but not least, Gary offered his perspectives on the current trends driving media in the digital age. Here are the interesting show notes and links to the discussion (with time-stamps included): Gary Liu, CEO of South China Morning Post [0:17] How did you start your career? [0:38] Can you talk about the backstory in how you come to join SCMP as the CEO? [1:06] In your career journey, what has been the most interesting lessons you can share with my audience? [2:16] South China Morning Post [4:01] The South China Morning Post aka SCMP is a Hong Kong English language newspaper founded in 1903 and is now owned by the Alibaba Group. In preparing for this interview, I did not realize that both Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp and a well-known Singaporean real estate tycoon, Robert Kuok were past owners of the SCMP as well.  Starting with an introduction, can you summarize what the South China Morning Post (SCMP) do and talk about its current mission and vision? [4:36] Who are the core audience of SCMP? [7:10] Since Alibaba’s acquisition and your hiring, what are the changes that you have brought to the post? [8:10] What are the interesting innovations and products that are now pioneered from SCMP that will be interesting to take the paper forward into the digital age? [9:34] Ink Stone This Week in Asia Style Abacus News What is your thinking process in making a decision if business and editorial groups are at loggerheads and could not come to an agreement? [13:56] How do you define if SCMP is successful in a few years time? [15:34] Perspectives in Media [17:33] As digital disruption has entered into traditional newspaper and media outlets, what are the challenges and where are the opportunities do you see that a traditional outlet can move forward? [17:42] Media outlets, for example, the Guardian & New York Times have shifted their audience from a local or regional to a global one. Do you see regional media outlets such as Nikkei and SCMP going in the same way in thinking about your audience and putting your knowledge about the region as a competitive advantage? [20:38] In your view, what are the most interesting business models and innovation in media that keeps you excited about the space? [21:59] Given that traditional news outlets can be viewed as institutions of trust, are there opportunities in the curation of media rather than discovery of media? [24:32] Where do you think that Asia journalism and news will go towards with the rise of China? [25:50] Closing [27:42] Can you recommend a book or movie or podcast or anything which recently made an impact to your work and personal life? [27:50] Gary's recommendation: "Team of Teams" by Chris Fussell, David Silverman, & Stanley A. McChrystal and Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin How do my audience find you? [29:11] Podcast Information: RSS Feed Apple Podcasts Himalaya Spotify Libsyn Google Play Overcast FM SoundCloud Luminary Twitter Facebook Video Facebook Page Linkedin Stitcher Castbox RadioPublic Acast PodBean ListenNotes TuneIn The show is hosted by Bernard Leong (@bernardleong & weibo) until 30 June 2019 and are sponsored by Ideal Workspace (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) with their new Altizen Desk (Twitter, Facebook, Medium). Sound credits for the intro music: Taro Iwashiro, "The Beginning" from Red Cliff Soundtrack and this episode is edited by Carol Yin, and co-produced by Carol Yin and Bernard Leong. This episode is recorded and produced in June 2019.

Four-star General Stanley A. McChrystal led the Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq during the Persian Gulf Wars and was the top Commander of American forces in Afghanistan, eventually retiring after a controversial Rolling Stone article was released. In this interview, McChrystal opens up about a range of topics he doesn't normally speak about: everything from nightmares he's been having, the value of humor, and the importance of storytelling to how his grandchildren have changed him for the better. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four-star General Stanley A. McChrystal led the Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq during the Persian Gulf Wars and was the top Commander of American forces in Afghanistan, eventually retiring after a controversial Rolling Stone article was released. In this interview, McChrystal opens up about a range of topics he doesn't normally speak about: everything from nightmares he’s been having, the value of humor, and the importance of storytelling to how his grandchildren have changed him for the better.

Sam McAfee is not a UX guy, which is why we’ve asked him to be one of our curators for Enterprise Experience 2019. This year’s program is designed to help UX leaders align, collaborate, and cooperate with peers from other functions in the enterprise—like engineering and product management, two areas Sam knows better than most. In this episode of the Rosenfeld Review, Sam shares his thoughts on the many forms leadership can take, how different types of people can all find their place on a larger team, and the way organizational structures affect the output of the people in them. A 20 year Silicon Valley veteran, Sam is the author of Startup Patterns, and helps companies build and scale new digital products, find and master product-market fit, and improve software development process and teamwork while scaling. More about Sam: – Startuppatterns.com Sam’s recent reads: –Team of Teams by Stanley A. McChrystal https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/insights/teamofteams/ –Drive by Daniel Pink https://www.danpink.com/drive./ –Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow –Essentialism by Greg McKeown https://gregmckeown.com/book/

Veterans Day Ceremony at the Nixon Library November 12, 2018 - Remarks by General Stanley A. McChrystal, the former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan - Formal Presentation of Colors by the Air Force Blue Eagles Honor Guard - Singing of the National Anthem by the Air Force Blue Eagles Honor Guard

The military is one of the most successful institutions that builds and develops leaders. Over half of the United States Presidents have served in the military. Russ sits down with Lee Delony and Ric McClain, both retired Military service members to talk about their time in the service and what they have learned about leadership and how that can translate to help anyone who wants to be a leader in whatever capacity.“THE DAY THE SOLDIERS STOP BRINGING YOU THEIR PROBLEMS IS THE DAY YOU STOPPED LEADING THEM. THEY HAVE EITHER LOST CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN HELP THEM OR CONCLUDED THAT YOU DO NOT CARE. EITHER CASE IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.”GENERAL COLIN POWELL, RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATEA big point of emphasis was servant leadership. Each person in the armed forces has a specific job they are specialized in and it is the leaders job to removed all distractions and impediments for their men and women to do their job effectively. As leaders, our job is to help those we lead be excellent at what they do.Show Notes:Why Courage Matters by John McCain – https://amzn.to/2zomr9E Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World by Stanley A. McChrystal – https://amzn.to/2NPeR1b Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis – https://amzn.to/2Jyh3Wv The Marshall Plan by Benn Steil – https://amzn.to/2P4owCv Ulysses S Grant by William S. McFeely Ph.D. – https://amzn.to/2SCSf3F Crusade in Europe by Dwight D. Eisenhower – https://amzn.to/2Ok7M4N

Our series continues with a discussion about the service that is required to uphold a social contract. We hear from Ray Mabus, former Secretary of the Navy and Governor of Mississippi; Alan Khazei, co-founder of City Year and longtime leader in the movement for national civilian service; and Stanley McChrystal, retired four-star general, former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and chairman of Service Year Alliance.Stanley A. McChrystal, You Don't Have to Wear a Military Uniform to Serve Your Country, The Atlantic (Jul. 20, 2016), https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/you-dont-have-to-wear-a-military-uniform-to-serve-your-country/491765/. Alan Khazei, Big Citizenship: How Pragmatic Idealism Can Bring Out the Best in America (Pub. Affairs 2010). David B. Larter, Out-going SECNAV Mabus defends progressive personnel reforms, Navy Times (Jan. 12, 2017), https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2017/01/12/out-going-secnav-mabus-defends-progressive-personnel-reforms/. Grayson Kirk, Shall We Have Universal Military Training? (1944 Censored), American Historical Association, https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/gi-roundtable-series/pamphlets/em-21-shall-we-have-universal-military-training-(1944-censored).Matthew Spalding, Principles and Reforms for Citizen Service, Heritage Foundation (Apr. 1, 2003), https://www.heritage.org/jobs-and-labor/report/principles-and-reforms-citizen-service.Janna Malamud Smith, 'Giving Back' Used To Be A Principle Of Our Democracy. Can It Be Again?, WBUR (Feb. 27, 2018), http://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2018/02/27/giving-back-janna-malamud-smith.This episode was produced by Mareva Lindo.Thanks to Doctor Turtle for the music:"Lullaby for Democracy" (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/The_Double-Down_Two-Step/lullaby_for_democracy)"Go Tell It On the Molehill" (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/Flush_Your_Rolex_1416/go_tell_it_on_the_molehill_2)

Jordan Harbinger (former host of the Art of Charm) is going through a major life transition and it has been challenging to say the least. Sal, Adam and Justin dive deep with Jordan on the topic of how to manage mindset when going through a rough patch in life. For anyone who has struggled with uncertainty and self-doubt, Jordan's story will inspire you to press onward. Jordan is a real pro in the podcast world and a master interviewer. You can find his new show, The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) and other podcasting apps. Subscribe and give Jordan a 5 star review there. “You guys were on a journey,” Jordan recalls the first time he met the guys. (3:50) “Going through the most stressful time in my life right now, by the way this is going.” He discusses his current transition period/biggest fears, separating from the Art of Charm. (8:30) Focus on the small wins. The guys get very real with Jordan about being the last person to be excited about his new venture. (19:00) Being interviewed by someone else is much underrated. Jordan talks about the art of being interviewed vs. being the interviewee. (23:30) The show and the business grew apart. How the old show didn't make sense to him anymore and how his new one will be pulling wisdom out of his guests. (29:00) Be vulnerable. What are Jordan's tips for being a great interviewer? (33:30) My duty is to the person that is listening. He gives an example of calling a guest out when things feel staged and the guys share personal stories of their own. (37:40) Jordan explains how he will monetize the new business. (45:00) “I feel like a crazy person.” Ego is the enemy. He talks about the stress and emotions he is currently going through. (46:41) Getting out of his house has been his saving grace. What he doing for self-care during this process? (58:40) Adaptogens recommended by Dr. Sal (1:07:17) Belly breathing (1:16:00) Fasting (1:17:00) Life purpose is to help people grow. He explains his higher purpose with what he is doing. (1:23:50) Links/Products Mentioned: Dirty Money | Netflix Official Site Ep 595-Joe DeSena - Mind Pump Media General Stanley McChrystal | New Rules of Engagement (Episode 573) Ep 695-Aubrey Marcus - Mind Pump Media Stress, Food, and Inflammation: Psychoneuroimmunology and Nutrition at the Cutting Edge A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose - Eckhart Tolle (book) Ashwagandha Stress Reduction, Neural Protection, and a Lot More from an Ancient Herb Method for reducing daily stress and anxiety in adults Four Sigmatic (MP Official Sponsor) Use the discount code “mindpump” for 15% off of your first order of health & energy boosting mushroom products onPoint Tactical Urban Escape and Evasion - The Bulletproof Blog Featured Guest/People Mentioned: Jordan Harbinger (@jordanharbinger)  Instagram The Jordan Harbinger Show by Jordan Harbinger jordanharbinger.com  Email address Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfield)  Twitter Joe De Sena (@realJoeDesena)  Twitter ashton kutcher (@aplusk)  Twitter DR. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)  Instagram Stanley A. McChrystal Aubrey Marcus (@aubreymarcus) Instagram Frank Sesno Eckhart Tolle (@EckhartTolle)  Twitter Would you like to be coached by Sal, Adam & Justin? You can get 30 days of virtual coaching from them for FREE at www.mindpumpmedia.com. Get our newest program, MAPS Prime Pro, which shows you how to self assess and correct muscle recruitment patterns that cause pain and impede performance and gains. Get it at www.mindpumpmedia.com! Get MAPS Prime, MAPS Anywhere, MAPS Anabolic, MAPS Performance, MAPS Aesthetic, the Butt Builder Blueprint, the Sexy Athlete Mod AND KB4A (The MAPS Super Bundle) packaged together at a substantial DISCOUNT at www.mindpumpmedia.com. Make EVERY workout better with MAPS Prime, the only pre-workout you need… it is now available at mindpumpmedia.com Also check out Thrive Market! Thrive Market makes purchasing organic, non-GMO affordable. With prices up to 50% off retail, Thrive Market blows away most conventional, non-organic foods. PLUS, they offer a NO RISK way to get started which includes: 1. One FREE month's membership 2. $20 Off your first three purchases of $49 or more (That's $60 off total!) 3. Free shipping on orders of $49 or more You insure your car but do you insure YOU? If you don't, and you are the primary breadwinner, you will likely leave your loved ones facing hardship and struggle if you die (harsh reality). Perhaps you think life insurance is expensive, but if you are fit and healthy, you can qualify for approved rates that are truly inexpensive and affordable. To find out if you qualify for the best rates in the industry, go get a quote at www.HealthIQ.com/mindpump Have Sal, Adam & Justin personally train you via video instruction on our YouTube channel, Mind Pump TV. Be sure to Subscribe for updates. Get your Kimera Koffee at www.kimerakoffee.com, code "mindpump" for 10% off! Get Organifi, certified organic greens, protein, probiotics, etc at www.organifi.com Use the code “mindpump” for 20% off. Go to foursigmatic.com/mindpump and use the discount code “mindpump” for 15% off of your first order of health & energy boosting mushroom products. Add to the incredible brain enhancing effect of Kimera Koffee with www.brain.fm/mindpump 10 Free sessions! Music for the brain for incredible focus, sleep and naps! Also includes 20% if you purchase! Please subscribe, rate and review this show! Each week our favorite reviewers are announced on the show and sent Mind Pump T-shirts! Have questions for Mind Pump? Each Monday on Instagram (@mindpumpmedia) look for the QUAH post and input your question there. (Sal, Adam & Justin will answer as many questions as they can)

Maybe performing under pressure is easier than we think. In those moments before an interview, an exam, or a presentation, we often feel our worst. Yet Daniel McGinn, author of the book, Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed believes we can decrease and even repurpose those anxious feelings to up our performance. Senior Editor of Harvard Business Review, Dan has written for Wired, Inc., The Boston Globe Magazine, and Newsweek. In this book, he draws on the fields of performance and sports psychology and shares quick and simple techniques we all can use. In this interview we discuss: Why we should take a page from pre-performance rituals of top athletes How we can leverage stress before a high-stakes event and maximize our performance What it means to fine-tune our emotions before a high-stakes event The role that centering plays to enhance high-level performance How pre-performance routines distract us from feeling anxious and prime us for the event Why that lucky pen, ring, or tie really can make a difference in our performance How the words we choose and the connections we make to something bigger than ourselves can help us psych up our teams Why a highly experienced, highly motivated team may not need a pep talk How listening to certain kinds of music can improve our performance in all kinds of tasks How a sports DJ is impacting two of the top sports teams in the U.S. Two factors that make a song motivational - how its musicality -- beats, tempo - resonate with us and how emotionally connected we feel to it How our self talk, our visualizations, and our mental rehearsals before an important event can improve our performance The important role priming -- physical and emotional - plays before a high-stakes event Why we should reflect back on past successes to increase our confidence in a new performance task How we can sit there feeling worried or we can develop a set of practices to give us confidence before a high-stakes event Links to Topics Mentioned in this Podcast @danmcginn http://www.psychedupthebook.com/ Improving Acute Stress Responses: The Power of Reappraisal Yuri Hanan and the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning Don Greene and centering The River and Laura Donnelly and Hugh Jackman Malcolm Gladwell Peak by Anders Ericsson Stanley A. McChrystal Sports DJ TJ Connelly Eye of the Tiger Nate Zinsser The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and review it on iTunes - your ratings make all the difference. For automatic delivery of new episodes, be sure to subscribe. As always, thanks for listening! Thank you to Emmy-award-winning Creative Director Vanida Vae for designing the Curious Minds logo, and thank you to Rob Mancabelli for all of his production expertise! www.gayleallen.net LinkedIn @GAllenTC

Biographic Sketch, Marc Rounsaville Rounsaville is currently one of the principles and a Senior Advisor for O4R Organizing for Resilience as well as the managing director of Bluejack Consulting. These firms specialize in leadership development, risk management and executive coaching. Clients from petroleum, banking, healthcare and emergency management industries seek out the technology and skills of these two companies. Both organizations serve individuals, organizations and governments with education, coaching, mentoring, professional leadership development, advanced emergency management and principles-based thinking. The diverse clients served include, US Forest Service, Dialogos International, Hospital Performance Improvement, Corsican Fire Department, Statoil, TOTAL, European Organization for Security and the Norwegian Oil and Gas Board. Prior experience includes; Special Assistant for Continuous Improvement and Risk Management, Deputy Director -- Operations US Forest Service Fire and Aviation, Area Commander, and Type 1 Incident Commander. In these roles Rounsaville led men and women in emergency response for fires, hurricanes, events and terror attacks. Program management duties during this period encompassed training, preparedness and risk management for emergency response and aviation activities across the Untied States. Book Recommendations: Team of Teams by Chris Fussell, David Silverman, Stanley A. McChrystal, and Tantum Collins The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher F. Chabris and Daniel Simons The Man Who Lied to His Laptop by Clifford Nass and Corina Yen Contact: http://www.org4resil.com/

Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey – some of the greatest leaders of all time. But what makes each of these individuals such a remarkable leader? And how do we define great leadership? We may be apt to hold on to the traditional notion that leadership is defined by rank and order. But your position or title alone does not qualify you as a veritable leader. Think about it, how many CEOs are there in the world that hold a position of great power, but have a nominal impact on their employees? How many managers aren’t even respected by those that they manage? Even brilliant and innovative individuals can stumble when it comes to finding their voice. Because leadership is not defined by a position, nor it is even defined by intellectual prowess or natural talent – leadership is the skill of influence, something that you can use to impact the thoughts, feelings, emotions and actions of others. And it is the most important skill that anyone of us can master. Yet as important as leadership is, in today’s world, it’s a rarity. And that’s not because there is a scarcity of natural born leaders. In fact, leadership can be cultivated. Many of us suppose it’s an innate talent, but anyone can become a leader in something that they decide to become masterful in. You could be the leader in your business, the leader in your class, the leader in your own family. You could even decide to become the leader of your own life. There are different types and different styles of leadership. But real leadership starts with the capacity to discipline your disappointment. Because along any journey worth taking, you are going to encounter obstacles, and odds are, you are going to fail. But if you can find a way to connect to yourself, and connect to others, and if you can find a way to break through those challenges, you can become a true leader. And when you strive to serve the greater good – something greater than yourself – that’s when you can become a truly great leader. Tony and Mary Buckheit recently sat down with General Stanley McChrystal and Chris Fussell to discuss what great leadership looks like today and how to cultivate an infrastructure for success in any organization. General Stanley A. McChrystal has been called “one of America’s greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.  A retired four-star general, he is the former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing the current counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. General McChrystal now serves as a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs where he teaches a course on Leadership in Operation.  And he co-founded the McChrystal Group in January of 2011 where he is currently a partner.  McChrystal Group’s mission is to deliver innovative leadership solutions to American businesses to help them transform and succeed in challenging and dynamic environments. Chris Fussell is a former Navy SEAL Officer, where he spent 15 years leading SEAL elements in combat zones around the globe. He served as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General McChrystal during McChrystal’s final year commanding JSOC, becoming an integral part of the team that made the Special Operation’s transformation into a successful, agile network possible. Fussell is also a partner at the McChrystal Group, where he leads the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute, where he brings his Special Operations experience and his expertise in leadership development to organizations of all sizes. In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, he regularly does media interviews, gives keynotes speeches, and speaks to business leaders at roundtables and panels. In this episode of the podcast, you will hear Tony, General McChrystal and Chris delve into the reasons that leadership no longer comes from a command and control model, but from creating relationship-based change throughout the entire organization and by empowering every single person that is part of your business. And they examine the importance of building trust, remaining flexible, practicing empathy, and creating a culture of shared consciousness. By breaking out of the traditional sense of leadership, business owners can create a more cohesive and more powerful team that is not only more unified, but more efficient, and ultimately, more effective.

On this Mastermind episode, part 1, co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of the nation's premier military counterterrorism force. General McChrystal (Ret.) is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counterterrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. Founder and Managing Partner of McChrystal Group, an elite leadership advisory team, and New York Times best-selling author, General McChrystal (Ret.) shares his insights into learning to lead, sharing power while maintaining ultimate responsibility, the necessity of adapting to external change, and growing from mistakes. Listen in to discover what it takes to create an adaptable team of teams in today’s demanding environment.   Key Takeaways [6:16] No plan survives contact with the enemy. Plan, prepare, and then adapt the plan to fit. [8:07] Entering unknown territory means learning lessons (almost failing), and then turning back and finding a better path. Seeking too much data can delay decisions and cost the opportunity. [8:50] Create an environment that says, action is essential — in fact, action is demanded. Failure is not sought, but failure goes with the business. [11:05] Leading is when you’re tired at the end of the day, when it’s frightening, when you have to make those very hard decisions, and you subordinate what you’d like to do to what you know you ought to do. [23:02] If you want people to like you, there is first a business-like, respectful way in which you treat people, and then you show people you like them. [26:15] General McChrystal (Ret.) explains the role of competition — It's about the big organization winning, it's about everyone’s success, not just one team. Competition is a human trait, but it's got to be competition more against a standard than against each other, or you get dysfunction. [31:30] Changes have to be done close to the point of action by people who understand the big picture. This means preparing and empowering front-line staff. [32:55] Jim cites Team of Teams as a must-read for leadership and personal development. [36:32] General McChrystal (Ret.) explains he allowed an informal authority within his command organization to make group-to-group trades of low-availability, high-value resources without clearing it through him, the Commanding General. [40:11] It's important for leaders to be effective communicators. They first have to understand what they're doing in the short-term and in the long-term, and they've got to communicate that to people inside and outside the organization. [44:41] Leaders have to think of themselves as leaders, and carry responsibility for others and responsibility for tasks, and to accept those responsibilities which will include some failures.   Quotable Quotes “There are a lot of misperceptions about the Special Operations community from the outside, as there are about business from inside the military. They are a cut of average Americans ... bound together by a common purpose and a trust, which gives them strength.” "As Heraclitus said, you’re never going to step in the same river twice — and that river is flowing faster than ever!" “If I told you, you can’t go home until we win, what would you do differently from what we’re doing now?” “I said, Hey, if you want me to slow this command down, if you want us to do less, I can have perfect knowledge. … But I don’t think that’s what you want.” “What is my role, and what is my contribution? I try to define myself by living by a certain set of values. … And I try to engage with people so I am a trusted comrade.” On personal self-discipline and sacrifice:  “Subordinate what you’d like to do to what you know you ought to do.”   Books Mentioned on the Show Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley McChrystal My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by General Stanley McChrystal What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: A Round Table Comic: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, by Marshall Goldsmith Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value, by Bill George   Bio General Stanley A. McChrystal (Ret.) served in the U.S. Army for 34 years and founded the McChrystal Group in 2011 — an elite advisory team that improves the performance of organizations and develops the men and women who lead them. Drawing from shared experiences gained while transforming the U.S. counterterrorism effort from a siloed, hierarchical apparatus into a high-performing team, McChrystal Group partners with businesses to build a resilient and adaptable team of teams that can win in today's dynamic environment. He is the author of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, and My Share of the Task, both New York Times best sellers. A passionate advocate for national service and veterans' issues, General McChrystal is Board Chair at Service Year Alliance, and in this capacity he advocates for a future in which a year of full-time service — a service year — is a common expectation, and opportunity for all young Americans.   Website: Mcchrystalgroup.com Twitter: @mcchrystalgroup FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/McChrystalGroup/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1763610?

Osama bin Laden may have been the most notorious face of al-Qaeda before his death, but a terrorist by the name of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi arguably had far more blood on his hands—and for years was enemy number one for the United States government. Running the al-Qaeda franchise in Iraq, Zarqawi and his followers usurped the Sunni insurgency and through vicious attacks on Iraqi civilians stoked a civil war pitting Sunnis and Shiites against each other. His damage was so great that even after American special operators, intelligence experts and Air Force pilots successfully tracked down and killed Zarqawi in June 2006, General Stanley McChrystal wrote in his newly published memoir My Share of the Task (Penguin Group USA, 2013) that it was “too late. He bequeathed Iraq a sectarian paranoia and an incipient civil war.” Nevertheless, the special operations machine built to defeat Zarqawi’s network continued to run full tilt, eventually having a strategic impact when married to the full-spectrum counterinsurgency and diplomatic pressures of "the surge." On January 28, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion featuring a keynote address by General Stanley A. McChrystal (ret.) that will, for the first time, focus on this crucial part of his career and the careers of so many who worked with him. The story of how Joint Special Operations Command, working with many other agencies and nations, built itself into a powerful network capable of studying, tracking, hunting, and finally killing Zarqawi is at the heart General Stanley McChrystal’s memoir. Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon, director of research for Foreign Policy at Brookings, provided introductory remarks. Brookings Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel, a 30-year veteran of the CIA, interviewed General McChrystal, before moderating a discussion with the audience.