Extreme Ownership - Leadership During Technical Implementation

May 24 (edited) • Technical Implementation

To succeed at technical implementation, we must lead.

As business leaders, there's only so much we can do as individuals. We can amplify our achievements by practicing partnership and leadership.

Extreme Ownership is one of my favorite books on Leadership. Here's a brief discussion on the book. You'll find the complete article on my personal blog, mentioned below.

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Extreme Ownership Defined

What is Extreme Ownership and why does it matter to a business leader?

Extreme Ownership is a mindset practiced by the authors of the book by that name. Jocko Willink and Leif Babin served our country as Navy SEALs, elite warriors of the United States Navy.

From the book’s introduction:

"With Extreme Ownership, you must remove individual ego and personal agenda. It’s all about the mission. How can you best get your team to most effectively execute the plan in order to accomplish the mission? That is the question you have to ask yourself. That is what Extreme Ownership is all about."

People, Not Robots

Those of us who have not served in the military (including me) may be led to believe that military leaders have it easy because subordinates must follow orders blindly. Not true. U.S. Military Personnel are not robots. When a person chooses to enter the profession of arms, they are literally risking their lives for the mission. A person who accepts that level of risk must believe in the mission. That belief is communicated through effective leadership.

The book Extreme Ownership pulls the reader into the theatre of war where battlefield challenges are described. Leadership principles are extracted from each battlefield situation. And then each principle is applied to business. This framework is repeated throughout the book: