Leadership Lessons From Navy SEALS

Brent Gleeson, a Forbes contributor, first learned about effective leadership in chaotic environments as a Navy SEAL. “Many, if not all, of those basic principles apply in business and life in general,” he says. Among the most widely applicable lessons he cites: 

They know the difference between “activity” and “results”: SEAL teams say, “find work.” If you find yourself at the end of your To Do list, that’s not when your contribution to the team ends. Make a new list of priorities and execute -- not busy work, but activities that align with team goals.

• They focus on small, continuous improvements: “If you have ten priorities, you have no priorities.”
• They make decisions that align with their values: They have taken the time to identify their values and can lead with authenticity because they consistently rely on them.
• They focus on what is in their immediate control: Stay in your three-foot world, say the SEALS. Maintain situational awareness and focus on what you can influence and execute with the most impact.
• They surround themselves with people who make them better: Successful people keep company with mentors and other successful people. They eschew the company of negative people, who hamper their ability to thrive.
• They inspire others to be successful:  Effective leadership isn’t about cultivating a flock of followers who blindly follow the will of the leader. It’s about developing more autonomous leaders at every level of the organization.

As a leader, which of these principles do you follow, and which might you try to develop going forward? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.  We would love to get your feedback!

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