In this episode of Jocko Podcast, military leaders Jocko Willink and Bobby Holland share insights about integrating into new teams. They cover fundamental attitudes that help new team members succeed, including the importance of staying humble, learning from mistakes, and putting team success ahead of individual achievements. The discussion also addresses proper execution of procedures and the value of being proactive in supporting teammates.
Willink and Holland explore the role of effective communication through the chain of command and share strategies for maintaining both physical and mental fitness. Their conversation includes specific recommendations for consistent training, strategic rest periods, and continuous learning. They emphasize that success in high-stakes operations requires attention to detail, precise execution, and dedication to standard operating procedures.
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Military leaders Jocko Willink and Bobby Holland discuss essential attitudes for success when joining a new team. Drawing from the Master Chief's advice, Willink emphasizes the importance of "keeping your mouth shut and ears open," highlighting the value of humility and eagerness to learn. Holland adds that being prepared and maintaining curiosity are crucial traits for new team members.
Both leaders stress the importance of owning up to mistakes and learning from them. According to Willink, repeated mistakes are particularly problematic as they indicate a failure to learn. The discussion emphasizes that prioritizing team success over individual achievements is fundamental to becoming an effective team member.
Attention to detail and precise execution are critical in high-stakes operations. Holland discusses the importance of rehearsing procedures and maintaining equipment, while Willink emphasizes the necessity of punctuality, suggesting arriving 15-30 minutes early for critical tasks. Both leaders stress adherence to standard operating procedures, with Holland noting his mantra "do it right or do it again."
The discussion highlights the importance of being proactive in supporting teammates. Willink introduces the concept of "looking for work," encouraging team members to seek out tasks autonomously. Holland shares personal experiences demonstrating the value of team support, including receiving help during heat exhaustion from a teammate.
Effective communication through the chain of command is emphasized as essential for addressing issues and requesting resources. Both leaders stress the importance of learning from experienced team members before assuming leadership roles, with Willink sharing his own experience of needing to earn his place despite previous accomplishments.
Physical fitness requires consistent training, according to both Willink and Holland. They warn against taking extended breaks from exercise, with Holland noting that after age 40, fitness losses can become permanent. Mental sharpness is equally important, with Willink recommending continuous learning through new skills and languages to maintain mental flexibility.
For recovery, Willink advocates for strategic rest periods, such as lying down with feet elevated above the heart, while Holland endorses short naps as a restorative practice. Both leaders emphasize the importance of proper nutrition and guided fitness plans for sustained performance.
1-Page Summary
When joining a new team, it’s crucial to come in with the right mindset and attitude. Through the guidance of experienced leaders like Jocko Willink and Bobby Holland, we explore the critical aspects that new team members should embody to ensure success and growth.
The Master Chief's advice, as interpreted by Jocko Willink, is to "Keep your mouth shut. Keep your ears open." This advice is about being humble and willing to listen, a trait that Willink finds to remain important. Being teachable and eager to learn is emphasized by both Willink and Holland.
Having a notebook is suggested by Willink as a sign of readiness to learn, and this reinforces the importance of showing up with the intent to absorb new information. Holland emphasizes the idea of coming in humble, having done the necessary homework, and being ready to undergo the learning process.
To be better prepared for advanced training, Holland performed pre-work with the new members. This readiness to learn under pressure enables better performance as a unit. Bobby Holland further suggests staying curious and recognizing that there is always more to learn.
When mistakes are made, it is crucial for team members to own up to these errors and learn from them, rather than repeat them. Willink explains that in the teams, a repeated mistake is unacceptable and dealt with sternly because it demonstrates a failure to learn from the initial error.
Willink recounts a story where a team member tried to cover up a mistake and only when he admitted the truth could the situation be properly addressed. Similarly, Holland discusses the importance for experienced members and leaders to acknowledge their errors, as it sets a precedent for the rest of the team and affects their roles in leadership.
Mindset and Attitude for New Team Members
Bobby Holland and Jocko Willink stress the need for new team members to embrace rigor, precision, and adherence to protocols to function efficiently in high-stakes operations.
The importance of attention to detail is heavily stressed through training and all operations. Holland speaks about rehearsing breaching and assaulting to become efficient and minimize time on target. Both Holland and Willink emphasize the significance of gear maintenance. Not only should gear be optimized, there must be redundancy for critical equipment. Holland and Willink provide insights such as maintaining night vision goggles or lasers and pre-staging items such as adhesive tape for easy access. This meticulous organization of gear ensures maximum efficiency during operations.
The sentiment that "how you do anything is how you do everything" underscores the importance of punctuality and organization. Willink emphasizes that good judgment reflects on one's ability to show up on time with the appropriate equipment and to take care of team gear before personal gear. According to Willink, being early is standard practice, with 15 minutes considered normative and 30 minutes advisable for critical tasks. He emphasizes the importance of punctuality, recalling advice he received: don't be late, don't forget any gear.
Holland points out the nee ...
Practical Protocols and Procedures for New Team Members
Effective leadership and teamwork are vital components for any successful operation, particularly within high-stakes environments like the military's SEAL teams. Below, we explore the key skills necessary for building a strong and effective team.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of team members being proactive in their roles. For new members, understanding the mission and being well-informed is crucial. Notably, the SEAL teams foster a culture of covering and caring for each other, as illustrated by the "swim buddy" concept, where teammates put each other and the team ahead of personal interests.
Proactive assistance and completing tasks are crucial aspects of teamwork highlighted throughout the discussion. For instance, the term "look for work" suggests a mentality of always being on the lookout to help teammates. It doesn't just end with one’s own tasks; there's always more work to be done for the team, like cleaning boats and gear post-operation. Willink discusses the expectation for new team members to seek out tasks autonomously, while Holland shares a personal experience of receiving help from a teammate, Leif, during heat exhaustion, demonstrating camaraderie.
Furthermore, Willink's anecdote about military uniforms underscores the connection between team presentation and morale, while Holland's recollection of being corrected by his team emphasizes a supportive environment that helps members learn from mistakes. The need to stay vigilant, as demonstrated by Willink's experience in Iraq, highlights the importance of focus within the team to achieve objectives. Willink and Holland both recall instances where carrying extra weight and handling grueling tasks were part and parcel of being new to the team — a testament to teamwork and personal dedication.
Effective communication within the chain of command is essential for addressing issues, resource requests, and feedback. The discussion touches upon the virtues of using a notebook to capture instructions and to signify engagement. Asking questions like, "What could I do better?" is part of engaging in efficient communication and improving oneself. Willink underscores the necessity of using the chain of command properly, while his mention of planning requirements infers the need for clear and precise communication for the execution of tasks and strategies.
A common thread throughout the conversation is the significance of learning from experienced team members and the value of following before assuming leadership roles. New members are encouraged to learn from leadership and become immersed in team protocols. Willink himself was reminded as a SEAL team newbie that he needed to earn his place, despite previous training accom ...
Building Leadership and Teamwork Skills
Jocko Willink and Bobby Holland emphasize the critical importance of maintaining physical fitness through consistent training. Willink speaks about the harm in ceasing workouts for extended periods, such as after a trip or during family events. He notes that while rigorous training like BUD/S can maintain fitness temporarily, it doesn't last forever without sustained effort. Holland echoes this sentiment, stating that after the age of 40, if exercise isn't consistent, there is a risk of permanent fitness loss. Both underscore the importance of never taking extended breaks from exercise, with Jocko discussing his personal regimen of jujitsu, lifting, and running, and Holland highlighting the continued training despite having back issues.
Willink recounts being in a combat outpost in intense heat and sweating as though he had been exercising, illustrating the demanding physical nature of service work even when not actively engaged in training. He also emphasizes the importance of physical training in civilian life, suggesting that the focus on knowledge in the civilian sector often leads to neglecting physical fitness. Preparedness for various conditions, which can be indirectly related to maintaining physical fitness, is implied through the mention of bringing appropriate gear like a beanie and a Gore-Tex jacket.
Willink and Holland discuss the importance of mental sharpness and adaptability in decision-making and problem-solving. The two-person integrity requirement for opening secure safes is mentioned as a method to check against rash decisions. Holland highlights the value of humility and the application of the OODA loop's principle of deliberate decision-making. Willink notes that newer team members should be open to adopting technology and improving efficiency. In a high-stress situation like skydiving, Holland points out that focusing on procedure was essential, while Willink advises keeping the world ...
Maintaining Physical and Mental Fitness
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