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Extreme Ownership
A review of

Extreme Ownership

How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Jocko Willink and Leif Babin • St. Martin’s Griffin • 2015
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Discipline and Humility

by David Meyer

Best-selling authors and former US Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin relate illustrative war stories and link them to crucial business issues: Own ’em, prioritize ’em, find solutions, fix ’em.

Former US Navy SEAL officers and New York Times number one best-selling authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin served in the Iraq War and fought in the 2006 Battle of Ramadi in SEAL Task Unit Bruiser, an outstanding special operations unit.

The two officers created and led leadership training for the US Navy special forces, the SEALs, and later opened Echelon Front, a leadership consultancy. Their combat record is exemplary, and they fought in some of the war’s toughest battles. Willink held higher rank than Babin, but their communication, commitment and willingness to examine the efficacy of their actions created a lasting bond.

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    T. P. 2 years ago
    Key principles:

    Taking extreme ownership: Leaders must accept responsibility for everything in their world, regardless of the circumstances. This means not blaming others, making excuses, or complaining.

    No bad teams, only bad leaders: It's a leader's job to build a successful team, and if the team isn't performing well, the leader needs to look inward and identify where they can improve.

    Cover and move: This military tactic emphasizes taking quick action and learning from mistakes as you go. Don't get bogged down in planning and analysis; be willing to adapt and adjust as needed.

    Simple, prioritize, and execute: Focus on the most important tasks and get them done efficiently. Don't overcomplicate things or get lost in unnecessary details.

    Decentralized command: Empower your team members to make decisions and take ownership of their tasks. Trust them to do their jobs well and provide support when needed.