black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

In the business world, and in life, there are inherent complexities. It is critical to keep plans and communication simple.

Jocko Willink

The most fundamental and important truths at the heart of Extreme Ownership: there are no bad teams, only bad leaders.
JOCKO WILLINK

Bad Fundamental Heart Important Leadership Team Truth
So how can a leader become great if they lack the natural characteristics necessary to lead? The answer is simple: a good leader builds a great team that counterbalances their weaknesses.
JOCKO WILLINK

Greatness Leadership Necessary Simplicity Team Weakness
All animals, including humans, need to see the connection between action and consequence in order to learn or react appropriately.
JOCKO WILLINK

Action Animal Connection Human Learning
The most impressive thing about this improvement in performance was that it did not come from a major process change or an advance in technology. Instead, it came through a leadership principle that has been around for ages: Simple.
JOCKO WILLINK

Age Change Improvement Leadership Simplicity Technology
Such concepts are simple, but not easy,
JOCKO WILLINK

Easy Simplicity
Remember: the enemy gets a vote.
JOCKO WILLINK

Democracy Enemy Remember
But we can’t ever think we are too good to fail or that our enemies are not capable, deadly, and eager to exploit our weaknesses. We must never get complacent. This is where controlling the ego is most important.
JOCKO WILLINK

Control Enemy Failure Goodness Important Thinking
Discipline equals freedom.
JOCKO WILLINK

Discipline Equality Freedom One Liner
I can remember many times when my boat crew struggled. It was easy to make excuses for our team’s performance and why it wasn’t what it should have been. But I learned that good leaders don’t make excuses. Instead, they figure out a way to get it done and win.
JOCKO WILLINK

Goodness Leadership Learning Myself Remember Struggle Time Win
A mission statement tells your troops what you are doing.
JOCKO WILLINK

Team Yourself
Trust is not blindly given. It must be built over time.
JOCKO WILLINK

Time Trust
There are no bad units, only bad officers. This captures the essence of what Extreme Ownership is all about.
JOCKO WILLINK

Bad Control Politics
As a leader, you have to balance the dichotomy, to be resolute where it matters but never inflexible and uncompromising on matters of little importance to the overall good of the team and the strategic mission.
JOCKO WILLINK

Goodness Importance Leadership Team
All elements within the greater team are crucial and must work together to accomplish the mission, mutually supporting one another for that singular purpose.
JOCKO WILLINK

Accomplishment Greatness Support Team Togetherness
Instead of letting the situation dictate our decisions, we must dictate the situation.
JOCKO WILLINK

Control Decision Ourselves
The leader must own everything in his or her world.
JOCKO WILLINK

Himself Leadership World

In the business world, and in life, there are inherent complexities. It is critical to keep plans and communication simple.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

In the business world, and in life, there are inherent complexities. It is critical to keep plans and communication simple.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Jocko Willink Quotes