After watching the movie, American Sniper and being so impressed with the story line, I decided it was time to finally read the book. I had put off reading this one for some time as I had ventured into so many good SEAL books and didn’t think another could add much to my learning. I was right and wrong.
It’s rare that a movie moves me more than a book, but this was one such example. The movie brought a depth to Chris’s character that was mostly missing from the book. The book was good, don’t get me wrong. The movie was just freakin’ magic.
A couple leadership lessons mostly missing from the movie and captured quite nicely in the book were around the character trait present in all his great SEAL leaders. This is telling. First off, Chris, is quite hard on his leaders. He felt during his first tour, his words not mine, he was led by a “bunch of pussies.” His “Head Shed” was more interested in safety and avoiding losses than he was in taking on missions and making a difference. Chris couldn’t stand following him. In essence, his leader wasn’t going anywhere. Remember, you gotta have an overarching vision worth living/dying for. Leaders can’t lead without it. Hard to imagine someone making it through BUD’s, through the rigors of the teams, and into some kinda SEAL leadership position without a big dream – but it happens everywhere, even with elite teams.
Chris also noticed what all his great SEAL leaders shared in common. He served a number of good ones who didn’t possess this trait and got on with it anyway. All the good ones had a overarching vision, a sense of purpose and mission, were strategic thinkers, and “Lion like” warriors. The great ones, however, ALL had one additional character trait. In Chris’s mind, this was the differentiator between good and great. What trait did he single out?
Humility.
Want a better team, my friend? What are you doing to build deep seated humility within, while building strength throughout your system? How are you keeping your success and the success of your teams in proper perspective? What are your daily disciplines for demanding excellence and staying humble while becoming elite? Great leaders understand you gotta build CORE strength within and beat back the devilish strategy of pride that somehow seeps in mostly unnoticed at first until is slowly, oftentimes silently, pervades and warps ones perspective.
It helps to look up and give thanks, remember…
BUILT TO LEAD 