09/08/2023
“Let’s swap out the boat crew leaders from the best and the worst crews and see what happens,” said Senior Chief. All other controls would remain the same—heavy and awkward boats, manned by the same exhausted crews, cold water, gritty and chafing sand, wearied men competing in challenging races. Only a single individual, the leader, would change. [...]
Could it possibly make any difference? I wondered.
Having received the direction to swap places, each boat crew leader went to his new position...
“Stand by... bust ‘em!” came the command. And they were off.
As the boats came in on the headlights, the numbers were clearly visible. Boat Crew VI won the race. [...]
It was a shocking turn of events. Boat Crew VI, in the same circumstances only under new leadership, went from the worst boat crew in the class to the best. [...] It was glaring undeniable example of one of the most fundamental and important truths at the heart of Extreme Ownership: there are no bad teams, only bad leaders.
Chapter 2: No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders, Extreme Ownership
Readers of Extreme Ownership often tell me that this story is one that resonates with them: No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders. A leader is responsible for everything that their team does (or doesn’t) do, every single thing that impacts their team’s mission. So, why did we even need to write this chapter to highlight such an obvious truth?
When the team isn’t doing well or not performing like they should, one of the most common excuses we give ourselves as leaders is to blame the team. But as the leader, you are responsible. Does your team understand the goal? Do they understand why they are doing what they are doing? Do they understand how their jobs impact the overall success or failure of the team and the mission? And how it impacts them personally? If they don’t, whose fault is it?
As the leader, IT IS YOUR FAULT. If you put the blame on the team, the PROBLEMS DON’T GET SOLVED. But when you take OWNERSHIP, implement training to better prepare your team, and make sure they understand not just what to do but why, you will build a team that SOLVES PROBLEMS, WORKS TOGETHER, and WINS.
Leif Babin Jocko Willink Echelon Front
