I'm consistently working on being a better leader and have learned a lot through the lens of military leaders like the Navy SEALs. Their experiences provide nuanced insights into decision-making when the stakes are high. This book, in particular, continues that journey of learning how to navigate extreme crises.
The first half of the book is packed with valuable principles, tho with some repetition that felt more like a blog post format than a full book. While the stories were engaging, they felt repetitive.
Key takeaways include concrete steps to lead effectively during crises and emerge stronger afterward. It's crucial to prepare before crises hit, verify initial reports, and understand the phases of crisis management.
- Assessment
- Reporting
- Containment (essential to stop momentum)
- Crisis Management
Without decisive action, stagnation can prevail.
Motivations to Read
I seem to find myself drawn to situations of responsibility and inevitably crisis management. The military has always been an inspiration for me in this regard because of the stakes and the discipline needed for the cost of getting it wrong. I discovered Admiral McRaven from his famous commencement speech emphasizing that disciplined execution of small, unglamorous actions is what actually changes the world.
3 Reasons to Read
- Practical leadership lessons and advice.
- How to navigate crisis and complexity under pressure.
- Learn a tested crisis management framework.
Notable Quotes
"In a crisis, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training."
"If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."
"It is not the strength of the body that matters, but the strength of the spirit."
"Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential."
"Bad news don't get better with age."
Notes for this book are still being transcribed.
