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.
- Break the team into groups of four to six
Give each group a designated leader.
- Share the Commander's Intent
Every leader understands the mission and the why.
- Set the left and right limits
Define what each junior leader may decide alone.
- Tell the boss what you will do
Juniors state the action they will take and skip asking what to do.
- Push information both ways
Pass situational awareness up and down the chain.
- Build trust and back the decision
Seniors support decisions made in pursuit of the objective.
From chapter: II. Laws of Combat, pp. 108–182
More from this book
All 6 frameworks-
Framework 3 · Leadership The leader's planning checklist A repeatable process for planning any operation or project.
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Framework 4 · Content and packaging Post-operational debrief A short review after every operation so the team keeps improving.
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Framework 5 · Lead generation Leading up and down the chain Take responsibility for everyone in your world, bosses included.
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Framework 6 · Life and thinking Search procedure with room owners A disciplined, repeatable method for collecting evidence quickly.
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Framework 1 · Hiring and teams Prioritize and Execute Stay calm and handle one problem at a time under pressure, highest priority first.