• Post Type: Backblast
  • When: 02/12/2023
  • AO: Coconut Horse
  • QIC: Maybelline
  • FNG's:
  • PAX: Hunchback, Shortsale(R), Whoopee(R), Stroganoff(R), Roscoe(R), DDC, Oompa Loompa(R)

7 PAX came out to run/ruck at the Coconut Horse. 6 stayed for Q source.

Chapter 6 : Simple

In this chapter Jocko explains the importance of simplicity in our planning and communication as a leader.

In this chapter, Jocko describes a scenario he encountered with a rookie MiTT leader(a US Army officer from a military transition team, deployed to train and combat-advise Iraqi soldiers, known as MiTTs). This MiTT leader come in with a misconception of what they would be up against and was intending to lead his team through a long stretch of hostile territory in Iraq.

Jocko goes on to explain the myriad of complexities in the rookie leaders plan and advised him to carry out a much more reasonable exercise that wouldn’t get the entire group killed.

Even though the MiTT leader followed Jocko’s advice and took the shorter path for their first exercise, the group  encountered heavy fire and were left with two casualties, both Iraqi soldiers, one would be fatal.  This experience rattled the rookie leader and proved Jocko’s point.  Had they carried out the leaders’ original, complex plan, they would have suffered catastrophic losses.

The issue with complexity is that it magnifies the effects of the issues we encounter in battle, and in life. Minimizing complexity and maximizing clear communication better ensures that when the $hit hits the fan, the group can recover and adjust to carry out a successful mission.

As a leader, we must strive to clearly and concisely communicate with our teams. No matter how well we understand our plans, if the team doesn’t understand top to bottom, we have not kept things simple enough and have failed.

In our discussion, several shared examples of similar scenarios playing out in their own lives. I could write a book on overcomplicating and overthinking everything. The best way I’ve found to combat this is to ask myself, “why?” when I’m going down a rabbit-hole and a plan is getting away from me.  This forces me to face some of the questions I’m likely to receive from my team ahead of time and prepare a short, clear response. In other cases, it forces me to realize that some component of my plan is flawed and needs work.

It’s an honor to get to sharpen myself mentally and physically with you guys. I need every one of you, in order to continue pushing and growing. I greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Maybe it’s Maybelline💋