several years ago when I had the privilege of assuming command of the US
privilege of assuming command of the US
privilege of assuming command of the US Navy’s largest aviation squadron it was
Navy’s largest aviation squadron it was
Navy’s largest aviation squadron it was in bad shape and getting worse we were
in bad shape and getting worse we were
in bad shape and getting worse we were tearing up airplanes and we were hurting
tearing up airplanes and we were hurting
tearing up airplanes and we were hurting people every day there were incidents
people every day there were incidents
people every day there were incidents that made us feel like we were getting
that made us feel like we were getting
that made us feel like we were getting by just on luck thinking back on it now
by just on luck thinking back on it now
by just on luck thinking back on it now I’m shocked that we weren’t crashing
I’m shocked that we weren’t crashing
I’m shocked that we weren’t crashing airplanes I had over 115 airplanes in my
airplanes I had over 115 airplanes in my
airplanes I had over 115 airplanes in my squadron and many of them look like this
squadron and many of them look like this
squadron and many of them look like this we’re clearly in no shape to fly but I
we’re clearly in no shape to fly but I
we’re clearly in no shape to fly but I had a couple of dozen others that we
had a couple of dozen others that we
had a couple of dozen others that we used every day to train the Navy’s
used every day to train the Navy’s
used every day to train the Navy’s newest fighter pilots to fly the f-18
newest fighter pilots to fly the f-18
newest fighter pilots to fly the f-18 Super Hornet unfortunately those
Super Hornet unfortunately those
Super Hornet unfortunately those airplanes well they looked okay on the
airplanes well they looked okay on the
airplanes well they looked okay on the outside they were just about a shape on
outside they were just about a shape on
outside they were just about a shape on the inside as this one can you imagine
the inside as this one can you imagine
the inside as this one can you imagine getting into an airplane that’s got 5 10
getting into an airplane that’s got 5 10
getting into an airplane that’s got 5 10 even over 30 different reasons why it
even over 30 different reasons why it
even over 30 different reasons why it should be grounded and then taking it
should be grounded and then taking it
should be grounded and then taking it flying and doing things like dropping
flying and doing things like dropping
flying and doing things like dropping bombs and dogfighting and trying to land
bombs and dogfighting and trying to land
bombs and dogfighting and trying to land on an aircraft carrier at sea it seems
on an aircraft carrier at sea it seems
on an aircraft carrier at sea it seems like such a silly question to ask yet
like such a silly question to ask yet
like such a silly question to ask yet all around me every day I had hundreds
all around me every day I had hundreds
all around me every day I had hundreds of smart talented and capable people who
of smart talented and capable people who
of smart talented and capable people who are making those sort of bad decisions
are making those sort of bad decisions
are making those sort of bad decisions but it wasn’t their fault and it wasn’t
but it wasn’t their fault and it wasn’t
but it wasn’t their fault and it wasn’t the airplanes our problem was our
the airplanes our problem was our
the airplanes our problem was our culture somehow our familiar culture of
culture somehow our familiar culture of
culture somehow our familiar culture of a high degree of individual
a high degree of individual
a high degree of individual accountability extreme levels of
accountability extreme levels of
accountability extreme levels of professional and technical knowledge the
professional and technical knowledge the
professional and technical knowledge the ability to balance competing priorities
ability to balance competing priorities
ability to balance competing priorities while still managing risks all of that
while still managing risks all of that
while still managing risks all of that had gotten so far out of whack changing
had gotten so far out of whack changing
had gotten so far out of whack changing culture and a large and complex
culture and a large and complex
culture and a large and complex organization is hard no matter in the
organization is hard no matter in the
organization is hard no matter in the absolute best of cases but imagine now
absolute best of cases but imagine now
absolute best of cases but imagine now people who are unfamiliar with the
people who are unfamiliar with the
people who are unfamiliar with the changes that we’re talking about there’s
changes that we’re talking about there’s
changes that we’re talking about there’s uncertainty about the path ahead
uncertainty about the path ahead
uncertainty about the path ahead oftentimes they’d rather just put their
oftentimes they’d rather just put their
oftentimes they’d rather just put their heads down hope for the best and do
heads down hope for the best and do
heads down hope for the best and do the circumstances that they that they
the circumstances that they that they
the circumstances that they that they see themselves in today and think about
see themselves in today and think about
see themselves in today and think about all the leaders you’ve known who’ve
all the leaders you’ve known who’ve
all the leaders you’ve known who’ve talked about the change that they’re
talked about the change that they’re
talked about the change that they’re gonna bring the improvements that are
gonna bring the improvements that are
gonna bring the improvements that are gonna come how things are gonna be
gonna come how things are gonna be
gonna come how things are gonna be better yet it’s almost as soon as their
better yet it’s almost as soon as their
better yet it’s almost as soon as their plans are rolled out it seems like
plans are rolled out it seems like
plans are rolled out it seems like they’re falling apart so as we think
they’re falling apart so as we think
they’re falling apart so as we think about making change in an organization
about making change in an organization
about making change in an organization it’s no wonder that so many times we try
it’s no wonder that so many times we try
it’s no wonder that so many times we try to change the culture of our teams and
to change the culture of our teams and
to change the culture of our teams and we fail so we could talk about all the
we fail so we could talk about all the
we fail so we could talk about all the reasons why failure upon failure was
reasons why failure upon failure was
reasons why failure upon failure was allowed to pile up in that squadron but
allowed to pile up in that squadron but
allowed to pile up in that squadron but the real learning comes from thinking
the real learning comes from thinking
the real learning comes from thinking about how we were able to successfully
about how we were able to successfully
about how we were able to successfully transform the culture and that very
transform the culture and that very
transform the culture and that very broken organization in spite of all of
broken organization in spite of all of
broken organization in spite of all of the challenges that we faced in spite of
the challenges that we faced in spite of
the challenges that we faced in spite of all the expectations that we would fail
all the expectations that we would fail
all the expectations that we would fail the transformation was remarkable
the transformation was remarkable
the transformation was remarkable injuries became rare our incident rates
injuries became rare our incident rates
injuries became rare our incident rates plummeted our productivity skyrocketed
plummeted our productivity skyrocketed
plummeted our productivity skyrocketed goals I had set and expected to meet in
goals I had set and expected to meet in
goals I had set and expected to meet in 24 months we achieved in less than nine
24 months we achieved in less than nine
24 months we achieved in less than nine it was a remarkable turnaround now just
it was a remarkable turnaround now just
it was a remarkable turnaround now just for a moment here I should make sure
for a moment here I should make sure
for a moment here I should make sure that you understand the culture that I’m
that you understand the culture that I’m
that you understand the culture that I’m talking about isn’t what maybe some
talking about isn’t what maybe some
talking about isn’t what maybe some might be thinking of you know things
might be thinking of you know things
might be thinking of you know things like beanbag chairs and ping pong tables
like beanbag chairs and ping pong tables
like beanbag chairs and ping pong tables at work well I’m a big fan of that sort
at work well I’m a big fan of that sort
at work well I’m a big fan of that sort of thing the culture I’m talking about
of thing the culture I’m talking about
of thing the culture I’m talking about defines how an organization works our
defines how an organization works our
defines how an organization works our culture comes from our values our
culture comes from our values our
culture comes from our values our beliefs our behaviors and we see it
beliefs our behaviors and we see it
beliefs our behaviors and we see it across our organizations every day one
across our organizations every day one
across our organizations every day one of the primary roles of leadership is to
of the primary roles of leadership is to
of the primary roles of leadership is to define the culture they want in their
define the culture they want in their
define the culture they want in their teams but if you asked a leader and they
teams but if you asked a leader and they
teams but if you asked a leader and they answer it honestly they would probably
answer it honestly they would probably
answer it honestly they would probably admit that as they go about doing their
admit that as they go about doing their
admit that as they go about doing their work every day there’s an element of
work every day there’s an element of
work every day there’s an element of fear that goes with them I know that
fear that goes with them I know that
fear that goes with them I know that fear that fear comes from this the doubt
fear that fear comes from this the doubt
fear that fear comes from this the doubt and the uncertainty that you have that
and the uncertainty that you have that
and the uncertainty that you have that the expectations you’re setting for your
the expectations you’re setting for your
the expectations you’re setting for your team about whether or not they’ll
team about whether or not they’ll
team about whether or not they’ll actually be able to meet them I had over
actually be able to meet them I had over
actually be able to meet them I had over 1,300 people in my squadron all
1,300 people in my squadron all
1,300 people in my squadron all talented capable accomplished and yet
talented capable accomplished and yet
talented capable accomplished and yet every day I feared the decisions that
every day I feared the decisions that
every day I feared the decisions that they were making they knew what the
they were making they knew what the
they were making they knew what the right decisions were and they knew how
right decisions were and they knew how
right decisions were and they knew how to do those things but our culture
to do those things but our culture
to do those things but our culture simply wouldn’t let them do the things
simply wouldn’t let them do the things
simply wouldn’t let them do the things that they should be so I had to create a
that they should be so I had to create a
that they should be so I had to create a new culture I had to create a culture
new culture I had to create a culture
new culture I had to create a culture that was healthy and it was robust it
that was healthy and it was robust it
that was healthy and it was robust it had to be highly reliable so we could
had to be highly reliable so we could
had to be highly reliable so we could consistently and we could safely execute
consistently and we could safely execute
consistently and we could safely execute our job
our job
our job the pillars upon which a culture of high
the pillars upon which a culture of high
the pillars upon which a culture of high reliability are built include integrity
reliability are built include integrity
reliability are built include integrity which means that you can count on people
which means that you can count on people
which means that you can count on people to do what they say and to do what
to do what they say and to do what
to do what they say and to do what they’re expected to do they have the
they’re expected to do they have the
they’re expected to do they have the courage to do what is right and to hold
courage to do what is right and to hold
courage to do what is right and to hold others and even themselves accountable
others and even themselves accountable
others and even themselves accountable formality means that people follow
formality means that people follow
formality means that people follow procedures they follow rules they don’t
procedures they follow rules they don’t
procedures they follow rules they don’t tolerate unauthorized shortcuts when
tolerate unauthorized shortcuts when
tolerate unauthorized shortcuts when you’re thinking about knowledge it means
you’re thinking about knowledge it means
you’re thinking about knowledge it means that you do you know not only what you
that you do you know not only what you
that you do you know not only what you do but why you do it and you’re
do but why you do it and you’re
do but why you do it and you’re constantly learning and incorporating
constantly learning and incorporating
constantly learning and incorporating that learning back into the work that
that learning back into the work that
that learning back into the work that you’re doing every day when you have
you’re doing every day when you have
you’re doing every day when you have strong team back up your fear just melts
strong team back up your fear just melts
strong team back up your fear just melts away because you know that there are
away because you know that there are
away because you know that there are dozens perhaps hundreds of people out
dozens perhaps hundreds of people out
dozens perhaps hundreds of people out there looking for and thinking about
there looking for and thinking about
there looking for and thinking about what it is that you haven’t found or
what it is that you haven’t found or
what it is that you haven’t found or thought about and oh by the way you’re
thought about and oh by the way you’re
thought about and oh by the way you’re expecting them to tell you about it when
expecting them to tell you about it when
expecting them to tell you about it when they find it and so what they do when
they find it and so what they do when
they find it and so what they do when they bring you that news even if it’s
they bring you that news even if it’s
they bring you that news even if it’s bad news you really value it lastly a
bad news you really value it lastly a
bad news you really value it lastly a questioning attitude means that people
questioning attitude means that people
questioning attitude means that people don’t just assume that things are gonna
don’t just assume that things are gonna
don’t just assume that things are gonna go okay they’re looking for those
go okay they’re looking for those
go okay they’re looking for those unexpected points of failure they’re
unexpected points of failure they’re
unexpected points of failure they’re anticipating what could go wrong they
anticipating what could go wrong they
anticipating what could go wrong they don’t just assume they go out and verify
don’t just assume they go out and verify
don’t just assume they go out and verify and when you have a team that’s built on
and when you have a team that’s built on
and when you have a team that’s built on a foundation like this trust grows like
a foundation like this trust grows like
a foundation like this trust grows like wildfire so when you define your culture
wildfire so when you define your culture
wildfire so when you define your culture the words matter the definitions of
the words matter the definitions of
the words matter the definitions of those words matter even more what
those words matter even more what
those words matter even more what matters most of all is that those words
matters most of all is that those words
matters most of all is that those words and definitions get into the minds of
and definitions get into the minds of
and definitions get into the minds of the people on your team so they guide
the people on your team so they guide
the people on your team so they guide the decisions that they’re making every
the decisions that they’re making every
the decisions that they’re making every single day
single day
single day now I said earlier one of the
now I said earlier one of the
now I said earlier one of the fundamental roles of leadership is to
fundamental roles of leadership is to
fundamental roles of leadership is to define the culture for the team that
define the culture for the team that
define the culture for the team that they’re leading the other equally
they’re leading the other equally
they’re leading the other equally important role is to ensure that every
important role is to ensure that every
important role is to ensure that every member on the team knows what is
member on the team knows what is
member on the team knows what is expected of them to bring that culture
expected of them to bring that culture
expected of them to bring that culture to life I did this by talking to every
to life I did this by talking to every
to life I did this by talking to every single person in my squadron in
single person in my squadron in
single person in my squadron in one-on-one meetings in small groups in
one-on-one meetings in small groups in
one-on-one meetings in small groups in large groups and town hall sessions and
large groups and town hall sessions and
large groups and town hall sessions and welcome aboard briefings even in their
welcome aboard briefings even in their
welcome aboard briefings even in their performance reviews I emphasize my
performance reviews I emphasize my
performance reviews I emphasize my expectations for them to bring our
expectations for them to bring our
expectations for them to bring our cultural life but the point I am ffice
cultural life but the point I am ffice
cultural life but the point I am ffice eyes above all else was that I expected
eyes above all else was that I expected
eyes above all else was that I expected them to hold me to the same expectations
them to hold me to the same expectations
them to hold me to the same expectations I was laying out for them and everybody
I was laying out for them and everybody
I was laying out for them and everybody else in the squadron and as a leader if
else in the squadron and as a leader if
else in the squadron and as a leader if you really want to get accountability
you really want to get accountability
you really want to get accountability going then enable and empower every
going then enable and empower every
going then enable and empower every person on your team to hold you
person on your team to hold you
person on your team to hold you accountable when you have an entire team
accountable when you have an entire team
accountable when you have an entire team that’s holding each other accountable
that’s holding each other accountable
that’s holding each other accountable including the senior leaders then change
including the senior leaders then change
including the senior leaders then change can happen very very quickly and in this
can happen very very quickly and in this
can happen very very quickly and in this culture of high reliability where people
culture of high reliability where people
culture of high reliability where people are empowered they know what’s expected
are empowered they know what’s expected
are empowered they know what’s expected of them and they’re holding each other
of them and they’re holding each other
of them and they’re holding each other accountable remarkable things can happen
accountable remarkable things can happen
accountable remarkable things can happen like the day I was walking across my
like the day I was walking across my
like the day I was walking across my hangar heading out to the flight line
hangar heading out to the flight line
hangar heading out to the flight line and I saw a sailor he had just graduated
and I saw a sailor he had just graduated
and I saw a sailor he had just graduated from high school and had been in my
from high school and had been in my
from high school and had been in my squadron for less than two weeks but a
squadron for less than two weeks but a
squadron for less than two weeks but a couple of days prior I’d been talking to
couple of days prior I’d been talking to
couple of days prior I’d been talking to him about my expectations for him and
him about my expectations for him and
him about my expectations for him and our culture I waved and then as I
our culture I waved and then as I
our culture I waved and then as I stepped onto the flight line he yelled
stepped onto the flight line he yelled
stepped onto the flight line he yelled sir stop you can’t go out there without
sir stop you can’t go out there without
sir stop you can’t go out there without your helmet and your goggles
your helmet and your goggles
your helmet and your goggles imagine the youngest most junior person
imagine the youngest most junior person
imagine the youngest most junior person in the organization telling the most
in the organization telling the most
in the organization telling the most senior person that he was making us
senior person that he was making us
senior person that he was making us mistake in that one instant when he
mistake in that one instant when he
mistake in that one instant when he intervened in my mistake he demonstrated
intervened in my mistake he demonstrated
intervened in my mistake he demonstrated all five of the pillars of our culture
all five of the pillars of our culture
all five of the pillars of our culture now that’s a simple story but the point
now that’s a simple story but the point
now that’s a simple story but the point is that started happening all across the
is that started happening all across the
is that started happening all across the organization I went from being an
organization I went from being an
organization I went from being an individual who was trying to change the
individual who was trying to change the
individual who was trying to change the behaviors and habits of 1,300 other
behaviors and habits of 1,300 other
behaviors and habits of 1,300 other to having hundreds of folks that were
to having hundreds of folks that were
to having hundreds of folks that were using these Polar’s to change the
using these Polar’s to change the
using these Polar’s to change the behaviors of everybody where they worked
behaviors of everybody where they worked
behaviors of everybody where they worked every day now there’s this myth out
every day now there’s this myth out
every day now there’s this myth out there that leadership in the military is
there that leadership in the military is
there that leadership in the military is somehow easier because we were a ranked
somehow easier because we were a ranked
somehow easier because we were a ranked on our collars and we can just tell
on our collars and we can just tell
on our collars and we can just tell people what to do that couldn’t be
people what to do that couldn’t be
people what to do that couldn’t be further from the truth the essence of
further from the truth the essence of
further from the truth the essence of great leadership varies not one bit from
great leadership varies not one bit from
great leadership varies not one bit from the military to corporate to commercial
the military to corporate to commercial
the military to corporate to commercial to private to government organizations
to private to government organizations
to private to government organizations what I know for sure is that people on a
what I know for sure is that people on a
what I know for sure is that people on a team they want to be lead they want to
team they want to be lead they want to
team they want to be lead they want to know that what they’re doing is
know that what they’re doing is
know that what they’re doing is meaningful and that they’re contributing
meaningful and that they’re contributing
meaningful and that they’re contributing in a way that adds value to the team
in a way that adds value to the team
in a way that adds value to the team they want to have expectations set for
they want to have expectations set for
they want to have expectations set for them and they want to be able to achieve
them and they want to be able to achieve
them and they want to be able to achieve them what they want is a leader who can
them what they want is a leader who can
them what they want is a leader who can lead without fear when you lead without
lead without fear when you lead without
lead without fear when you lead without fear you empower your team to do the
fear you empower your team to do the
fear you empower your team to do the sort of things that they’re asking to do
sort of things that they’re asking to do
sort of things that they’re asking to do every single day so we started
every single day so we started
every single day so we started accomplishing that sort of that sort of
accomplishing that sort of that sort of
accomplishing that sort of that sort of outcome on a day-in and day-out basis I
outcome on a day-in and day-out basis I
outcome on a day-in and day-out basis I set expectations for every one of the
set expectations for every one of the
set expectations for every one of the members of my team that they could stop
members of my team that they could stop
members of my team that they could stop any sort of activity that they felt was
any sort of activity that they felt was
any sort of activity that they felt was unsafe and pretty soon instead of having
unsafe and pretty soon instead of having
unsafe and pretty soon instead of having a supervisor on every single job I
a supervisor on every single job I
a supervisor on every single job I started having people no matter what
started having people no matter what
started having people no matter what they were working on they became their
they were working on they became their
they were working on they became their own supervisor they took an attitude
own supervisor they took an attitude
own supervisor they took an attitude that they could solve their problems I
that they could solve their problems I
that they could solve their problems I empowered them to make decisions on the
empowered them to make decisions on the
empowered them to make decisions on the best interest of the squadron and on
best interest of the squadron and on
best interest of the squadron and on behalf of myself and I also accept the
behalf of myself and I also accept the
behalf of myself and I also accept the expectation that if any of them saw
expectation that if any of them saw
expectation that if any of them saw something that is it shouldn’t be they
something that is it shouldn’t be they
something that is it shouldn’t be they had to put a stop to it
had to put a stop to it
had to put a stop to it in our old culture nobody would speak up
in our old culture nobody would speak up
in our old culture nobody would speak up there was no reason to do so in our new
there was no reason to do so in our new
there was no reason to do so in our new culture
culture
culture I gave recognition and awards to people
I gave recognition and awards to people
I gave recognition and awards to people who took the chance to say hey there’s
who took the chance to say hey there’s
who took the chance to say hey there’s something wrong and pretty soon it
something wrong and pretty soon it
something wrong and pretty soon it started to spread and
started to spread and
started to spread and for just a short period of time we put
for just a short period of time we put
for just a short period of time we put these airplanes back together and we
these airplanes back together and we
these airplanes back together and we started doing this sort of awesome
started doing this sort of awesome
started doing this sort of awesome flying you see here but more importantly
flying you see here but more importantly
flying you see here but more importantly we put a team back together we put a
we put a team back together we put a
we put a team back together we put a team that was built upon a healthy and
team that was built upon a healthy and
team that was built upon a healthy and just on the foundation of a healthy and
just on the foundation of a healthy and
just on the foundation of a healthy and strong culture in a culture of high
strong culture in a culture of high
strong culture in a culture of high reliability one thing is absolutely sure
reliability one thing is absolutely sure
reliability one thing is absolutely sure people feel empowered and they feel
people feel empowered and they feel
people feel empowered and they feel equipped and they feel capable of making
equipped and they feel capable of making
equipped and they feel capable of making the sort of decisions that are expected
the sort of decisions that are expected
the sort of decisions that are expected of them every day as I think about those
of them every day as I think about those
of them every day as I think about those sailors that I led and the challenges
sailors that I led and the challenges
sailors that I led and the challenges that we met I have a question that I
that we met I have a question that I
that we met I have a question that I would ask of you in the teams that
would ask of you in the teams that
would ask of you in the teams that you’re a part of do you think that based
you’re a part of do you think that based
you’re a part of do you think that based upon the stated values of your
upon the stated values of your
upon the stated values of your organization that people can make the
organization that people can make the
organization that people can make the decisions the organization is expecting
decisions the organization is expecting
decisions the organization is expecting of them and further do you believe that
of them and further do you believe that
of them and further do you believe that there’s enough substance in the
there’s enough substance in the
there’s enough substance in the definitions of their vision that people
definitions of their vision that people
definitions of their vision that people would be able to know how to use it to
would be able to know how to use it to
would be able to know how to use it to guide their behaviors and the work that
guide their behaviors and the work that
guide their behaviors and the work that they’re doing every day
they’re doing every day
they’re doing every day if you’ve laid out your culture
if you’ve laid out your culture
if you’ve laid out your culture if you’ve defined it if you’ve
if you’ve defined it if you’ve
if you’ve defined it if you’ve communicated it and then lastly if
communicated it and then lastly if
communicated it and then lastly if you’ve given people the necessary
you’ve given people the necessary
you’ve given people the necessary knowledge and ability to act then you
knowledge and ability to act then you
knowledge and ability to act then you can be sure that you can lead without
can be sure that you can lead without
can be sure that you can lead without fear as I think about all the challenges
fear as I think about all the challenges
fear as I think about all the challenges that we came through what I absolutely
that we came through what I absolutely
that we came through what I absolutely want to leave you with is that it’s not
want to leave you with is that it’s not
want to leave you with is that it’s not easy here’s going to be challenges
easy here’s going to be challenges
easy here’s going to be challenges people are going to have to make
people are going to have to make
people are going to have to make decisions they’re gonna have to make
decisions they’re gonna have to make
decisions they’re gonna have to make decisions that they’re not sure that
decisions that they’re not sure that
decisions that they’re not sure that they should be but you want them to fall
they should be but you want them to fall
they should be but you want them to fall back on the culture that you built in
back on the culture that you built in
back on the culture that you built in the organization you want them to know
the organization you want them to know
the organization you want them to know that they have to make those decisions
that they have to make those decisions
that they have to make those decisions and they have to guide their behaviors
and they have to guide their behaviors
and they have to guide their behaviors nonetheless and if you’re leading a team
nonetheless and if you’re leading a team
nonetheless and if you’re leading a team that’s built on a foundation with a
that’s built on a foundation with a
that’s built on a foundation with a culture like that then I can assure you
culture like that then I can assure you
culture like that then I can assure you as a leader you have absolutely nothing
as a leader you have absolutely nothing
as a leader you have absolutely nothing to fear thank you
to fear thank you
to fear thank you you
”
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