Great leaders are different in subtle ways. They present themselves differently, ask questions others don’t ask, and balance short and long-term goals masterfully. Perhaps most distinctive about them is the view they have about responsibility. Over the course of their lives, they have created an
Recently finished up the book Extreme Ownership and "Developing an Ethic of Accountability" is exactly what Extreme Ownership is all about. It's sometimes tough to take on all the responsibility when things don't go as planned and other moving parts are to blame, but as a leader you have to step up accept it.
Nov 28, 2023·edited Nov 28, 2023Liked by Admired Leadership
Good morning Jerry,
I have read that book a couple times now. Mr. Willink and Mr. Babin give us, mere mortals, a road map for success. In retail it was (perhaps still is) widely read/recommended among store leads and up. There is one common effect with some of those reading it: the Dunning-Kruger Effect. I do not know your industry, but in retail (the industry I work in) the tasks are mostly unskilled and positions easy to obtain. Navy SEALS or any other military member, SOF or not, go through a pipeline. This molds them into what the organization needs (is supposed to). My point is, those of us in civilian life have different issues, laws, etc... when it comes to work. We are wise to listen, then artfully apply those lessons as needed. Also remember that not everything rests on us. After all that would be a large chip;).
Thanks, Jerry. It is the obligation of leadership that many people don't think about when accepting a promotion or title. What's the key insight or takeaway you have from Extreme Ownership?
Great book! The lessons of decentralized command, leading up and down the chain, etc., were all impactful for me regarding the principles of responsibility and accountability. I found The Dichotomy of Leadership helpful also - leadership is in the "And," not the "Or."
Back in the day, my high school coach told us “we point the thumb, not the finger” to get across a similar idea. He’d often bark “only thumb guys on this team” to reinforce the message, especially if we were casting blame. In my experience this behavior or ethic of taking accountability breeds respect and credibility amongst both the “followers” and “superiors” of the leader. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is a good book on this theme. If you have 15 minutes, Jocko Willink’s Ted talk provides a great example of the ethic of accountability in action.
Yes, I have found Mr. Willink's and Mr. Babin's book helpful and informative. The TED Talk with Jocko Willink was short and sweet. He really gets right to it. I appreciate his speaking skills.
Those two guys have done a lot for their community and leadership as a discipline.
We certainly must, do what we can to take ownership and responsibility in our lives. What I have learned in work though is to take accountability for what is in your sphere of influence/experience. A balanced approach is imperative. A lot of the poor outcomes are simply cause and effect of decisions made by disconnected and/or carefree higher ups. That has nothing to do with a lot of the lower level people. If one is taking responsibility for what is literally not their job, that is foolish. It is, however, a great way to boost the ego, make yourself the scapegoat, appear delusional, etc..There's a reason TEMPERENCE is a virtue.
The more that is practiced the better off we'll be (my personal thoughts).
Recently finished up the book Extreme Ownership and "Developing an Ethic of Accountability" is exactly what Extreme Ownership is all about. It's sometimes tough to take on all the responsibility when things don't go as planned and other moving parts are to blame, but as a leader you have to step up accept it.
Good morning Jerry,
I have read that book a couple times now. Mr. Willink and Mr. Babin give us, mere mortals, a road map for success. In retail it was (perhaps still is) widely read/recommended among store leads and up. There is one common effect with some of those reading it: the Dunning-Kruger Effect. I do not know your industry, but in retail (the industry I work in) the tasks are mostly unskilled and positions easy to obtain. Navy SEALS or any other military member, SOF or not, go through a pipeline. This molds them into what the organization needs (is supposed to). My point is, those of us in civilian life have different issues, laws, etc... when it comes to work. We are wise to listen, then artfully apply those lessons as needed. Also remember that not everything rests on us. After all that would be a large chip;).
Thank you for your time.
Thanks, Jerry. It is the obligation of leadership that many people don't think about when accepting a promotion or title. What's the key insight or takeaway you have from Extreme Ownership?
This title, right? https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057
Great book! The lessons of decentralized command, leading up and down the chain, etc., were all impactful for me regarding the principles of responsibility and accountability. I found The Dichotomy of Leadership helpful also - leadership is in the "And," not the "Or."
Back in the day, my high school coach told us “we point the thumb, not the finger” to get across a similar idea. He’d often bark “only thumb guys on this team” to reinforce the message, especially if we were casting blame. In my experience this behavior or ethic of taking accountability breeds respect and credibility amongst both the “followers” and “superiors” of the leader. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is a good book on this theme. If you have 15 minutes, Jocko Willink’s Ted talk provides a great example of the ethic of accountability in action.
Good morning Scott,
Solid points.
Yes, I have found Mr. Willink's and Mr. Babin's book helpful and informative. The TED Talk with Jocko Willink was short and sweet. He really gets right to it. I appreciate his speaking skills.
Those two guys have done a lot for their community and leadership as a discipline.
Thanks for your time.
Thanks Scott.
Appreciate the recommendation - here is the link to the talk for those interested in Scott's example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljqra3BcqWM
Good morning,
Some solid points are made.
We certainly must, do what we can to take ownership and responsibility in our lives. What I have learned in work though is to take accountability for what is in your sphere of influence/experience. A balanced approach is imperative. A lot of the poor outcomes are simply cause and effect of decisions made by disconnected and/or carefree higher ups. That has nothing to do with a lot of the lower level people. If one is taking responsibility for what is literally not their job, that is foolish. It is, however, a great way to boost the ego, make yourself the scapegoat, appear delusional, etc..There's a reason TEMPERENCE is a virtue.
The more that is practiced the better off we'll be (my personal thoughts).
As always thank you for your time.