Call Sign Chaos

1. Direct Leadership: Mastering the Basics of Command

Beneath its Prussian exterior of short haircuts, crisp uniforms, and exacting standards, the Corps nurtured some of the strangest mavericks and most original thinkers I would encounter in my journey through multiple commands, dozens of countries, and many college campuses.

Competence, Caring, and Conviction. Direct leadership, the foundation of Mattis's career, is built on three pillars: competence in one's craft, genuine care for the troops, and unwavering conviction in one's values. These qualities, honed through years of experience, form the bedrock of effective command at the personal level.

• Mastering the basics: Physical fitness, tactical knowledge, and clear communication are essential.
• Caring for troops: Knowing them as individuals, understanding their goals, and showing genuine concern.
• Conviction: Setting clear standards and sticking to them, while maintaining humility and compassion.

Leading by Example. Mattis emphasizes that a leader must be as tough as his toughest men, setting the standard for physical and mental fortitude. This approach builds trust and respect, essential for gaining the full commitment of troops.

• Physical toughness: Working out with the most fit, learning from the most cunning.
• Tactical soundness: Mastering fire support, map reading, and tactical cunning.
• Leading from the front: Being as tough as your troops, not concerned with how many books you've read.

Building a Fighting Spirit. Direct leadership is about reaching the souls of troops, instilling a sense of purpose and commitment. This is achieved through a combination of competence, caring, and conviction, creating a cohesive unit capable of dominating the battlefield.

• Instilling purpose: Creating a sense of belonging and shared mission.
• Building confidence: Ensuring troops know their leader is competent and won't waste their lives.
• Shaping the fighting spirit: Combining physical strength, mental agility, and spiritual resilience.

2. Executive Leadership: Scaling Influence Through Intent

In any organization, it’s all about selecting the right team.

Delegation and Trust. Executive leadership requires a shift from direct, face-to-face interaction to influencing through layers of command. This is achieved by clearly articulating intent and unleashing subordinate initiative, fostering a culture of trust and decentralized decision-making.

• Clear intent: Providing the "why" behind the mission, not just the "how."
• Decentralized authority: Empowering subordinates to make decisions based on the commander's intent.
• Trust in subordinates: Believing in their capabilities and allowing them to act independently.

Command and Feedback. Effective executive leadership relies on a "command and feedback" approach, rather than "command and control." This involves clearly stating intent, unleashing initiative, and then using feedback loops to address obstacles and challenges.

• Clear goals: Defining the mission as a shared responsibility, not just the commander's.
• Effective coaching: Providing guidance and support to subordinate commanders.
• Feedback loops: Using data and information to identify and fix problems.

Building a Team. Selecting the right team is paramount, valuing initiative and aggressiveness above all. Institutions get the behaviors they reward, and executive leaders must create a culture that fosters these qualities.

• Rewarding initiative: Valuing those who take action and seize opportunities.
• Aggressiveness: Encouraging a bias for action and a willingness to take risks.
• Ethical standards: Holding everyone to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.

3. Strategic Leadership: Aligning Military Might with Political Aims

When it comes to the defense of our experiment in democracy and our way of life, ideology should have nothing to do with it.

Civilian-Military Interaction. Strategic leadership involves reconciling the grim realities of war with the aspirations of political leaders. Military leaders must understand the political context and ensure that military actions align with broader policy goals.

• Understanding political goals: Aligning military actions with the desired political outcomes.
• Reconciling realities: Balancing the harsh realities of war with political aspirations.
• Serving the public trust: Remaining a steward of the public trust, regardless of political affiliation.

Strategic Thinking. Strategic leaders must be able to see the big picture, anticipate future threats, and develop long-term plans. This requires a deep understanding of history, economics, and international relations.

• Defining threats: Identifying the main threats to the country and adapting to a changing world.
• Adapting to change: Adjusting military education, budget, and leadership selection to address new challenges.
• Creating options: Using historical knowledge to create options and avoid being a victim of circumstance.

The Importance of a Clear End State. Strategic leaders must define a clear, achievable end state and ensure that all actions are aligned toward that goal. This requires a deep understanding of the political context and the ability to avoid mission creep.

• Clear objectives: Defining a clear, limited end state for military operations.
• Avoiding overreach: Knowing when to stop fighting and avoid mission creep.
• Diplomatic solutions: Using diplomacy to pull together coalitions and achieve strategic goals.

4. The Power of Reading: Learning from History's Lessons

If you haven’t read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren’t broad enough to sustain you.

History as a Guide. Reading history is essential for leaders, providing a depth of understanding that illuminates the path ahead. By studying the successes and failures of past leaders, we can avoid repeating mistakes and create better options.

• Learning from others: Studying how others have dealt with similar challenges.
• Avoiding mistakes: Learning from the mistakes of past leaders rather than repeating them.
• Creating options: Using historical knowledge to create options and avoid being a victim of circumstance.

Expanding Horizons. Reading expands our horizons, exposing us to different perspectives and ways of thinking. This is crucial for developing the intellectual agility needed to adapt to changing circumstances.

• Intellectual freedom: Nurturing intellectual freedom and imaginative solutions.
• Critical thinking: Developing the ability to analyze situations and make sound judgments.
• Historical depth: Gaining a deeper understanding of the present by studying the past.

The Value of Mentorship. Reading is a form of mentorship, allowing us to learn from the experiences of those who have come before us. By studying the lives and writings of great leaders, we can accelerate our own development.

• Learning from veterans: Asking veterans about their experiences and reading relentlessly.
• Mentoring techniques: Adopting mentoring techniques to expand the horizons of others.
• Expanding understanding: Accelerating understanding of combat by studying leadership examples.

5. The Importance of Allies: Strength in Shared Purpose

Everywhere we sailed, at every landing and every exercise in foreign countries, I was introduced to the enormous value of allies.

The Value of Collaboration. Allies are an irreplaceable asset, providing diverse perspectives, unique skills, and shared burdens. By working together, nations can achieve more than they could alone.

• Learning from others: Gaining different perspectives and effective fighting styles from allies.
• Shared burdens: Distributing the costs and risks of military operations.
• Irreplaceable benefit: Recognizing the value of learning from others and working together.

Building Trust. Trust is the foundation of any successful alliance. By building strong relationships with allies, we can create a network of support that enhances our collective security.

• Mutual confidence: Building confidence in one another's fighting spirit.
• Shared understanding: Developing a common understanding of goals and objectives.
• Operations at the speed of trust: Recognizing that operations occur at the speed of trust.

The Power of Unity. A unified coalition is more powerful than any single nation. By working together, allies can create a force that is feared by foes and embraced by friends.

• Shared mission: Creating a sense of shared purpose and commitment.
• Collective strength: Recognizing that a unified coalition is more powerful than any single nation.
• Global reach: Understanding the value of a global network of allies.

6. The Tyranny of Distance: Adapting to the Unforeseen

The Marines teach you, above all, how to adapt, improvise, and overcome.

Adaptability as a Core Skill. The ability to adapt, improvise, and overcome is essential for success in any field, but especially in the military. Leaders must be able to respond quickly and effectively to changing circumstances.

• Improvisation: Developing the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges.
• Overcoming obstacles: Finding creative solutions to problems.
• Flexibility: Being able to shift gears and change course when necessary.

The Importance of Planning. While adaptability is crucial, it must be grounded in sound planning. Leaders must anticipate potential challenges and develop contingency plans to address them.

• Contingency planning: Developing plans to address potential setbacks and challenges.
• Rehearsals: Practicing maneuvers and drills until they become second nature.
• Anticipating the unexpected: Preparing for the unexpected and developing mental models for dealing with chaos.

The Need for Speed. In a rapidly changing world, speed is of the essence. Leaders must be able to make decisions quickly and effectively, without getting bogged down in bureaucracy.

• Bias for action: Developing a strong bias for action and a willingness to take risks.
• Decentralized decision-making: Empowering subordinates to make decisions quickly and effectively.
• Operational tempo: Maintaining a high operational tempo to keep the enemy off-balance.

7. The Moral Dimension of War: Ethics and the Warrior's Code

To be a good soldier you must love the army. But to be a good officer you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love.

The Weight of Command. Leaders must be willing to make difficult decisions, including ordering troops into harm's way. This requires a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to ethical conduct.

• Moral responsibility: Understanding the moral implications of command decisions.
• Compartmentalizing emotions: Separating personal feelings from professional duties.
• Focus on the mission: Prioritizing the mission above personal concerns.

The Importance of Ethics. Ethical conduct is essential for maintaining the trust and respect of troops and the public. Leaders must hold themselves and their subordinates to the highest standards of integrity.

• Ethical standards: Holding everyone to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.
• Avoiding favoritism: Treating all troops fairly and without bias.
• Maintaining a moral compass: Ensuring that actions are guided by a strong moral compass.

The Human Cost of War. Leaders must never forget the human cost of war. They must be mindful of the sacrifices made by troops and their families, and they must strive to minimize casualties whenever possible.

• Respect for the fallen: Honoring the sacrifices of those who have died in service.
• Caring for the wounded: Ensuring that wounded troops receive the best possible care.
• Minimizing casualties: Taking all possible steps to minimize casualties and protect innocent lives.

8. The Value of Initiative: Unleashing Subordinate Potential

Institutions get the behaviors they reward.

Empowering Subordinates. Leaders must empower their subordinates to take initiative and make decisions independently. This requires a culture of trust and a willingness to tolerate mistakes.

• Decentralized decision-making: Empowering subordinates to make decisions based on the commander's intent.
• Rewarding initiative: Valuing those who take action and seize opportunities.
• Tolerating mistakes: Recognizing that mistakes are part of the learning process.

Creating a Bias for Action. Leaders must foster a culture that values action and encourages troops to take the initiative. This requires a clear understanding of the mission and a willingness to take risks.

• Clear intent: Providing the "why" behind the mission, not just the "how."
• Aggressiveness: Encouraging a bias for action and a willingness to take risks.
• Seizing opportunities: Empowering subordinates to take advantage of fleeting opportunities.

The Importance of Trust. Trust is essential for unleashing subordinate initiative. Leaders must trust their subordinates to make sound decisions, and subordinates must trust their leaders to support them.

• Trust in subordinates: Believing in their capabilities and allowing them to act independently.
• Trust up and down the chain: Building a culture of trust at all levels of the organization.
• Supporting subordinates: Standing by subordinates when they make mistakes while doing their best.

9. The Art of Persuasion: Building Trust and Common Ground

I learned the art of persuasion, creating common ground where none seemed to exist and gaining the confidence of a young person terrified of the legendary Marine drill instructor.

Finding Common Ground. Persuasion is about finding common ground, even when it seems impossible. Leaders must be able to connect with others on a personal level and build relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

• Empathy: Understanding the perspectives and concerns of others.
• Building relationships: Creating connections based on trust and mutual respect.
• Creating common ground: Finding areas of agreement and shared interest.

The Power of Listening. Effective persuasion requires active listening. Leaders must be willing to hear out different points of view and to learn from others' experiences.

• Active listening: Paying attention to what others have to say.
• Seeking feedback: Soliciting input from others and being open to criticism.
• Learning from others: Recognizing that everyone has something to offer.

The Importance of Persuasion. Persuasion is a critical leadership skill, especially in complex and challenging situations. Leaders must be able to influence others to support their vision and to work together toward a common goal.

• Gaining confidence: Persuading others to believe in your vision and your leadership.
• Creating common ground: Finding areas of agreement and shared interest.
• Building consensus: Working with others to achieve a common goal.

10. The Imperative of Adaptability: Thriving in Chaos

You make mistakes, or life knocks you down; either way, you get up and get on with it. You deal with life. You don’t whine about it.

Embracing Change. Adaptability is essential for success in a rapidly changing world. Leaders must be willing to embrace change and to adjust their plans as needed.

• Flexibility: Being able to shift gears and change course when necessary.
• Improvisation: Developing the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges.
• Openness to new ideas: Being willing to consider new approaches and perspectives.

Learning from Mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable, but they can also be valuable learning opportunities. Leaders must be willing to admit their mistakes and to learn from them.

• Honesty: Being honest about mistakes and moving on.
• Learning from setbacks: Using setbacks as opportunities to refine your approach.
• Resilience: Bouncing back from adversity and continuing to move forward.

The Importance of Resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Leaders must be able to maintain their composure in the face of challenges and to inspire their troops to do the same.

• Maintaining composure: Remaining calm and focused in the face of adversity.
• Inspiring others: Motivating troops to persevere through difficult times.
• Dealing with life: Accepting that life will knock you down, but you must get up and get on with it.

Last updated: January 31, 2025