Eagles Insight Podcast
Dive into a world where military precision meets corporate strategy, uniting the best leadership principles from the battlefield to the boardroom.
In this podcast, you will learn how to:
- Sharpen Your Vision: Gain transformative insights that equip today’s leaders to excel amidst complex challenges.
- Veteran Discipline in Business: Uncover how the discipline and efficiency of veterans transform their roles in civilian sectors, influencing successful business strategies.
- Combat Wisdom for Executives: Explore the dynamic parallels between military tactics and executive decision-making, applying combat-tested wisdom for impactful organizational leadership.
Tune in to navigate the complex terrain of leadership and strategy, where each episode enhances your understanding and elevates your leadership prowess.
Eagles Insight Podcast
32 - Creating Strong Subcultures and Holding People Accountable with Teresa Schlosser
Bob Dixon interviews Teresa Schlosser, a retired veteran with almost three decades of service and a Five Eagles Leadership coach. Bob and Teresa discuss what it is like to develop great cultures within organizations. Drawing on their extensive military leadership experience, they discuss the complexities of toxic leadership, effective strategies for navigating challenging leadership situations, and the organic formation of subcultures within larger organizations, including the powerful and sometimes unpredictable "E four Mafia".
This episode offers valuable lessons for leaders at all levels looking to build strong, value-driven cultures and navigate the messy but rewarding world of leading people.
About Teresa Schlosser:
Teresa retired from the US Army after 28 years as an Engineer Officer. She served four operational and combat tours in the Balkans, the Philippine Islands, Afghanistan, and Iraq. She led troops at every level from a 67-Soldier platoon to the 3,500-person Engineer Research & Development Center (ERDC), the premier research and development center for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
She lives in Vicksburg, MS and is available for speaking engagements, professional coaching, and leadership mentoring opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
- There are two forms of toxic leadership: the obvious abusive leader and the "nice guy" leader who fails to hold subordinates accountable, which can foster toxicity within the organization.
- When working for a toxic leader, it's generally advisable to focus on doing your best work, protecting your team, addressing issues privately when necessary, and understanding the risks involved in public confrontation.
- Leaders must be deliberate about defining and communicating their values and should lead by example, as their actions are constantly observed.
- Subcultures can develop organically within organizations, and while they can be beneficial, leaders need to be aware of their potential to deviate from the overall organizational culture, as exemplified by the "E four Mafia".
- Kindness in leadership should not be mistaken for weakness; effective leaders can be both compassionate and firm in upholding standards and holding people accountable.
- The need to be liked should not take precedence over the responsibility of enforcing standards and ensuring the job gets done correctly and safely.
- Effective accountability involves clear communication of standards and expectations, and corrections can be made respectfully without resorting to cruelty or demeaning behavior.
Connect on LinkedIn: Teresa Schlosser