Can you be commanding without doing command and control? Can you have authority without being authoritarian? What is the best way to avoid the traps of hubris and power? Brigadier Nick Jans OAM (retired) shares his wisdom and insight from a lifetime of leadership and learning in the military. He debunks some of the myths that exist around military leadership and culture, namely that there is a difference between being authoritative and authoritarian. Military leaders have an embedded culture where you ‘earn your spurs’ and win authority, not seize it.
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Why you should listen:
🎧 The real mettle of leadership is what you do in easy times: win trust and compliance through building relationships
🎧 How to avoid the trap of “believing in your own legend”
🎧 What the military builds into its leadership systems to cut abuses of power and hubris that the business world can adopt
We explore:
• The distinctions between leading in complicated, complex and critical situations and how the military, political and civilian leaders do it
• The parallel chain of command that makes it easy to give feedback to superiors, and why all businesses should embrace this process
• The best piece of advice Nick ever received: “Shut up and listen”
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SHOWNOTES:
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/nickjans
Books Mentioned:
The Chiefs — This was mentioned BEFORE we started recording and is one of Nick Jans’s publications.
https://defence.gov.au/ADC/Publications/Chiefs/TheChiefs.pdf
The Power Paradox by Dacher Keltner
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Paradox-Gain-Lose-Influence/dp/0143110292/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the%20power%20paradox&qid=1585719202&sr=8-2
About Nick:
Nick has long described himself as a soldier, a scholar and a management consultant, since much of his professional practice has encompassed all three roles.
He has researched and written on leadership of teams and organisations, strategic leadership and leadership in complex networks. His most recent book is Leadership Secrets of the Australian Army: Learn from the best and inspire your team for great results, 2018 (Allen & Unwin). Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to community recovery in his hometown of Marysville after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
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Related Episodes:
E81 - 4 Factors for Success as an Executive, A Riveting Chat with Ron Carucci, Co-Author of Rising to Power
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/ronpower
E32 - Stephen Scott Johnson Interview - Conscious Transformation of an Organisational Culture
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/emergent
E39 - How to Develop a Collaborative Leadership Style - Interview with Simon Dowling
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/simon
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About your podcast host, Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is one of Australia’s leading experts on people stuff - the stuff that gets in our way of producing results, and the stuff that lights us up. She works with the growers, makers, builders to make people stuff fun and practical.
Zoë is the author of three books: 'Composure - How centered leaders make the biggest impact', 'Moments - Leadership when it matters most' and 'Loyalty - Stop unwanted staff turnover, boost engagement, and build lifelong advocates." Zoë is also the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast.
www.zoerouth.com