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Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, framework 2 of 6

Decentralized Command

Split a large team into small groups with leaders who act within clear limits.

Jocko Willink and Leif Babin's framework, from Extreme Ownership, pp. 108 to 182.

  1. Break the team into groups of four to six

    Give each group a designated leader.

  2. Share the Commander's Intent

    Every leader understands the mission and the why.

  3. Set the left and right limits

    Define what each junior leader may decide alone.

  4. Tell the boss what you will do

    Juniors state the action they will take and skip asking what to do.

  5. Push information both ways

    Pass situational awareness up and down the chain.

  6. Build trust and back the decision

    Seniors support decisions made in pursuit of the objective.

From chapter: II. Laws of Combat, pp. 108–182

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