Introduction
For my leadership book review and analysis I chose; Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. This book highlights how the most important factor that separates the Great from the Good leaders is Extreme Ownership. Great Leaders take absolute ownership not only for things they were directly responsible for, but additionally for everything that impacted their mission. “Once people stop making excuses, stop blaming others, and take ownership for everything in their lives, they are compelled to take action to solve their problems. They are better leaders, better followers, more dependable and actively contributing team members, and more skilled in aggressively driving toward mission accomplishment.
…show more content…
Positive leadership is characterized by the leader's ability to build trust with their subordinates, communicate effectively, and foster a culture of accountability and ownership. This is critical for creating a sense of purpose and meaning within the team, which is essential for achieving success. As a platoon leader, I plan to apply the principles of extreme ownership and decentralized command, as well as the other leadership principles discussed in the book, to create a positive command environment that promotes subordinates' development and buy-in to my vision.
Actions Leaders Can Take to Ensure Ethical and Positive Command Climate
One of the major themes of Extreme Ownership is the importance of taking responsibility for everything that happens in your organization. In order to ensure that your organization is ethically sound and has a positive command climate, there are several actions you can take as a leader:
Firstly, establish a clear and concise mission statement. This should be communicated to everyone in the organization so that they understand the purpose and goals of the organization. This will help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives and will provide a framework for
…show more content…
As Willink and Babin write, "Leaders must lead by example. They must embody the principles and values that they expect from their teams" (p. 35). If you want your soldiers to behave ethically and contribute to a positive command climate, you need to demonstrate those qualities yourself.
Applying What I’ve Learned to My Own Leadership Style
As a soon-to-be 2nd Lieutenant Officer in the Army ROTC program, I found Extreme Ownership to be an incredibly valuable resource. The book reinforced many of the leadership principles that I have learned in my Military Science courses, but it also provided me with new insights and perspectives on leadership.
One of the most impactful quotes from the book for me was: "In leadership, there are no shortcuts, no tricks, no hacks. Just hard, demanding, and disciplined work" (p. 3). This quote really resonated with me because it emphasized the importance of hard work and dedication in leadership. Leadership is not something that can be learned overnight or achieved through shortcuts. It requires constant effort and