#124 Captain Brad Geary - Inside the Failed Investigation and Tragic Death of Kyle Mullen

At a Glance

• Leadership and Decision Making - “Let’s figure out how to prioritize what you prioritize and now message it effectively as if you’re briefing an op for approval.” This emphasizes the importance of effective decision-making and leadership in high-pressure situations.

• Character Assessment - “How do we teach those monsters now not to be monstrous? How do we teach them that the capability we’re giving them by teaching them to shoot, move, and communicate, the need to bridle that and pull it back and show restraint?” This highlights the focus on character development and restraint in training.

• Incentivizing Behavior - “We have to make a decision that will be designed to incentivize or disincentivize a certain behavior.” This showcases the strategic approach to shaping behavior within the training program.

• Importance of Culture - “Culture eats strategy for breakfast every single day.” This quote underscores the significance of aligning decisions with organizational culture for success.

• Recognition of Courage - “One gate guard stopped a Chinese foreign national from wandering in the back beach gate. Small thing, but he had the courage to like, hey, what’s going on here?” This illustrates the importance of recognizing and rewarding acts of courage and initiative.

What to Do

• Prioritize what is important and manage risk effectively - Understanding what information is crucial and focusing on key points can help in making informed decisions and reducing risks in planning.

• Be humble and willing to acknowledge mistakes - Being open to feedback and learning from errors shows leadership and growth potential.

• Maintain restraint and show empathy - Balancing capability with compassion and restraint is essential in leadership roles to avoid becoming a “monster” who misuses power.

• Understand human nature and organizational culture - Being aware of human behavior and organizational dynamics can help in making effective decisions and fostering a positive work environment.

• Align decisions with organizational culture and values - Ensuring that decisions align with the core values and culture of the organization can lead to better outcomes and prevent conflicts.

• Stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity - Taking a stand against injustice and speaking out against unethical behavior, even if it comes with risks, can lead to positive change and accountability.

What to Get

• Not Much Here

Summary

In this podcast episode, the conversation delves into the importance of understanding human nature, organizational culture, and subcultures within an organization. The speakers emphasize the need for leaders to be students of human behavior in order to make effective decisions that incentivize desired behaviors and align with the organization’s culture. They discuss the concept of culture eating strategy for breakfast, highlighting the significance of aligning decisions with the culture to achieve desired outcomes. The episode also touches on the qualities sought after in officers within Naval Special Warfare, emphasizing the need for individuals who possess the capability to be formidable yet exercise restraint and show humility as leaders.

Furthermore, the speakers share anecdotes from their experiences, such as a story about a candidate in Buds who demonstrated selflessness and earned the trust of his peers by putting the team’s needs above his own. This exemplifies the importance of peer leadership and the value of positive affirmation in building trust and camaraderie within a team. The episode also discusses the challenges faced by officers in training scenarios, where they must demonstrate prudence, wisdom, and the ability to manage assets effectively.

Overall, the episode provides insights into the qualities and behaviors that are valued in leaders within Naval Special Warfare, emphasizing the importance of understanding human behavior, aligning decisions with organizational culture, and demonstrating humility and restraint in leadership roles. The speakers share personal stories and reflections on their experiences, highlighting the significance of peer leadership, positive affirmation, and the ability to adapt and learn from mistakes in order to succeed in high-pressure environments.