Every leadership path is unique, yet they all converge on a crucial element - the trust and credibility we cultivate with our teams. This shared cornerstone of leadership was brought into sharp focus for me during Jocko Willink's "Critical Leadership Training" masterclass. It was there that I encountered a term that precisely defines my ongoing leadership practice: Leadership Capital. Jocko, an esteemed former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, expressed a concept that profoundly aligns with my approach to leadership.
Picture Leadership Capital as a special kind of bank account, but instead of money, you're depositing trust, respect, and reliability. The more robust this account is, the more effectively you can steer your team and help them achieve their goals, particularly when faced with challenges. This concept resonated with me instantly because, in many ways, I've been intuitively building on this concept throughout my journey, but now I have the perfect term to describe it.
I've been lucky enough to lead some transformative projects. You know, the kind that changes how we work, digitizes our business and throws out the old "we've always done it this way" attitude. I’ve always been about challenging the status quo and trying new things. In these times of big changes and new directions, having a shared goal and a clear vision was absolutely important. This journey of transformation and challenging norms was impossible without the leadership capital I had accumulated before.
Learning the label "Leadership Capital" from Willink for this concept has been a lightbulb moment for me. It helped me retrospectively understand the dynamics of the changes I led and confirmed what I considered to be an integral part of my leadership style. This realization was like finding a missing piece of my leadership puzzle, a piece I had always used but could never name.
So, based on Jocko's masterclass, I've put together some of his thoughts on understanding and using Leadership Capital to become a leader people trust, even when things are tough.
Understanding Leadership Capital
Leadership Capital is like credibility and trust that you earn over time. It's built through respect, experiences, and your ability to inspire others. Just like money, you can use it wisely or waste it. If you've got a good balance in your 'leadership bank,' people are more likely to follow your lead, even in hard times. Jocko’s military background gives some unique perspectives on building this capital.
How to Gain Leadership Capital
Consistency in Actions: Being consistent in what you do and decide builds trust and predictability.
Effective Communication: Be clear and transparent. It's key to building trust and making sure everyone gets your vision.
Empathy and Understanding: Really caring about your team members makes a big difference.
Demonstrating Competence: Being good at what you do adds to your leadership credibility.
Leadership Capital & Compound Interest
Like a financial investment, Leadership Capital grows with compound interest. Every positive action and effective leadership moment adds to it. The more you invest in trust and credibility, the bigger the returns in terms of team loyalty and productivity.
Integrating Willink’s Principles with Leadership Capital
Jocko Willink's Navy SEAL strategies are a good starting ground for growing Leadership Capital. Some of them sound very basic, especially if you are reflecting on your leadership style already and have read articles around that topic, but still relevant to mention here:
Simplifying Complex Tasks: Making tough tasks manageable builds trust in your leadership.
Prioritizing Challenges: Handling crises well wins team trust.
Empowering Team Members: Giving your team responsibilities boosts their confidence and your leadership capital.
Navigating Dichotomies in Leadership: Balancing things like humility and assertiveness adds to your credibility.
Effective Communication: Keeping the vision clear at all levels reinforces trust in your leadership.
TL;DR: Building a Trust Fund in Leadership
Leadership Capital is about building trust, credibility, and respect. It's earned through consistent positive actions, effective communication, empathy, and showing you're competent. This capital is important for leading teams through tough times and making hard decisions. Like money, it grows with compound interest - the more you invest in positive leadership, the greater the returns in team loyalty and effectiveness.