Lessons from a CIA Veteran

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Jeffrey Sanow on critical thinking and leadership lessons from his CIA career. They discuss the importance of critical thinking, especially in high-stakes situations. They emphasise the need to make decisions with incomplete information, be open to failure, and empower teams to take risks and learn.

Key Takeaways

• Critical thinking is crucial for leaders, especially when making decisions with incomplete information
• Empowering team members to take risks and learn from failures is essential for fostering innovation
• Honesty, strong communication, and taking care of your people are fundamental leadership principles
• Experience in government/intelligence roles develops unique leadership skills transferable to other sectors

In this conversation Jeffrey shares insights on how leaders can prepare their teams and organisations for unpredictable changes and challenges. He stresses the importance of building a strong, trusted foundation and taking care of one's people. They discuss strategies for leaders to effectively navigate cross-cultural environments, including the importance of honesty, open communication, and focusing on shared fundamental human needs.

Jeffrey describes the key traits and skills required to be a successful CIA operative, including having a strong personality, the ability to control one's ego, and a good sense of humour combined with a strong work ethic.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• Judith Germain (mentoring, Speaker, author) - judithgermain.com
• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.