Jocko Willink Leadership Style

Leadership can come in many forms and from many perspectives. In the heat of combat, the leadership from a Navy Seal is much different than that of a leader in a high school dorm. Through reading Extreme Ownership I found how leadership completely changes depending on the perspective. Leadership in combat is completely dependent on quick, decisive execution, whereas leadership in the dorm is more dependent on taking time to work with everyone before arriving at a solution.
Jocko Willink writes of his experiences as a Navy Seal Commander, sharing the lessons he learned as a leader in intense battle situations. Jocko’s leadership has zero room for error and must be extremely decisive; lives are at stake. For this reason, Jocko must make the

immediate decision to benefit and protect the team; there is no time for consultation. Jocko thus must have complete ownership and responsibility for his decisions and the team’s actions. In explaining “Prioritize and Execute,” Jocko states, “...a leader must remain calm and make the best decision possible… utilize Prioritize and Execute” (161). Although decisions are important no matter the type of leader, Jocko’s situation puts the decision solely in his hands. Jocko also acknowledges that “the leader is truly and ultimately responsible for everything,” (29) especially the decisions made and their consequences.
The high stress, responsibility, and decisiveness of being a leader is much different in a dorm leadership position.

No lives are at stake, the situation is low stress, but the decisions are no less important. When leading in the dorm, decisions are based much more on what the entire group wants. Although the leader must take some responsibility for his hall, responsibility falls on several people like the core member, seniors, or hall chief rather than just one man. This leadership style is much more democratic and allows for a decisions in the interest of all. Dorm leaders direct their leadership skills towards setting an example and focusing the work on his hall in order to make the democratic leadership work most effectively. Although the dorm leader isn’t the only person responsible for the decisions, his role is crucial to lead and direct such decisions. A dorm leader may get the comfort that his decision can be made with consultation and more time, but that only means that the ultimate decision made should have no flaws. As the outside perspective changes from high-stakes combat, the style of leadership ultimately adapts accordingly, fitting what is best for the situation. Therefore this perspective of leadership is much more patient and council based.
In conclusion, all types of leadership are similar in ways such as taking initiative or setting the example. However, different types of leadership have a different perspective depending on the situation. Combat leadership is high-risk and requires a single-unquestioned authority. A certain level of responsibility and decisiveness is necessary. On the other hand, leadership in the dorm has an entirely different perspective, one of patience, listening, and finding a thought-out solution. Both leaders are necessary to lead the group, but differ dramatically in style based on the

perspective.