I recently had the privilege of hearing General McChrystal speak about his book Team of Teams and his experience in Iraq and Afghanistan at an event organized by my friend Scott Balogh (Mar-Bal Inc).
The General detailed his struggles and his unwavering commitment to win the war against a nimble and highly dedicated enemy. With his leadership and a well communicated vision, the military and government organizations worked together to reset how they operated, changing from an old hierarchical, top-down machine to a highly communicative, well-oiled, cross-functional, matrix-driven operation where decisions were made at the lowest possible level. His model created a 30x increase in operational execution with the same staff. These changes were not easy, yet with his unrelenting vision, his team of teams completely changed the direction of the war which saved the lives of countless Iraqis and serviceman alike.
At Team CCI, we strive to take the lessons General McChrystal speaks of and apply them to our everyday business. We constantly encourage all of our teammates to follow our core values and to provide compelling customer experiences. Our mission is to lift our teammates and challenge them to be more to themselves and to others.
Here’s to General McChrystal who, with his team, asked the hard questions and through persistence and determination found a better way. Thank you General McChrystal for your leadership and your service. You have made and continue to make a huge impact on all of our lives.
One final thought, General McChrystal prefers to be called Stan. I’ve had great opportunities to meet amazing leaders. Every one of them has been approachable, kind, compassionate, and great listeners. Stan has all of these qualities and more. I was honored to spend time with both Stan and Scott, two men who are pinnacles of leadership.
For more information on Stan McChrystal and how he and his team can transform your organization, please visit: McChrystal Group