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Mission Command in Reality: Don Vandergriff on Building Thinking Leaders
Manage episode 478376963 series 3657827
Mission command isn’t a process—it’s a culture.
In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Don Vandergriff, retired military leader and pioneer of outcomes-based learning, to explore what mission command really looks like in practice. Far from a doctrinal buzzword, it’s about building trust, empowering people, and creating space for thinking leaders.
Don draws on decades of experience to show why control, ego, and risk aversion are the enemies of adaptability—and how learning must be active, informal, and continuous. From Von Moltke to tactical decision games, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone leading in complexity.
If you want to stop managing and start developing real leadership, this one’s for you.
🔍 In this episode:
- Why mission command is about culture, not command structures
- The critical role of trust, intent, and empowerment
- How constraints and control kill initiative
- Why most After Action Reviews are broken
- Using historical insights to shape modern leadership
- How to build critical thinking and initiative with decision games
🎧 Keywords: mission command, leadership, trust, empowerment, military culture, decision-making, adaptability, learning, critical thinking, Von Moltke
📘 Learn more about Don’s work: https://donvandergriff.substack.com/
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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast
📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout
💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/
Chapters
1. Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Cultural Challenges in Military Command (00:04:22)
3. The Importance of Empowerment and Trust (00:07:00)
4. Learning from Mistakes and After Action Reviews (00:09:56)
5. Constraints and Freedom in Decision Making (00:13:07)
6. Historical Perspectives on Leadership and Adaptability (00:15:55)
7. The Role of Education in Military Effectiveness (00:18:56)
8. The Need for Critical Thinking in Command (00:22:02)
9. Conclusion and Future Directions (00:25:06)
10. Transformative Workshops for Leadership Development (00:35:58)
11. The Importance of Mission Command (00:40:43)
12. Learning Through Problem Solving Games (00:46:30)
13. Encouraging Critical Thinking in Leadership (00:52:37)
14. Creating a Culture of Initiative and Adaptability (00:57:54)
15. Outro (00:58:30)
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