Episode 113 - What can we learn about optimising teams from a Royal Marines Commando Sniper part 2

In the second part of this insightful series, Chris and Gareth continue their chat with Dave Anderson, a former sniper and platoon weapons instructor from the Royal Marines. They dive into leadership, psychological safety, and decision-making in high-stakes environments.

Embracing Mistakes for Growth

Dave highlights how embracing mistakes fosters growth. He stresses the importance of a psychologically safe environment where feedback flows freely, helping teams learn and adapt. Leaders who encourage resilience and continuous improvement can drive organisational transformation.

Psychological Safety in Training

Dave shares a powerful story about a training incident that underscored the importance of psychological safety. Creating an environment where mistakes can be reported without fear is crucial for both military and corporate teams.

Sniper Insights and Leadership Transition

From the perspective of a sniper, Dave discusses intelligence gathering, denying enemy movement, and supporting patrols. He also reflects on his transition from combat to leadership, deepening his understanding of human behaviour and decision-making.

Effective Training and Breaking Rank Barriers

Chris and Dave explore the challenges of traditional military training, where seniority often outweighs expertise. They advocate for professionalising instructor roles to create more inclusive learning environments and empower team members.

Decision-Making in High-Stakes Situations

Effective leadership means making tough decisions under pressure. Dave emphasises the value of psychological safety for open communication and sound judgement, helping teams navigate critical scenarios with confidence.

Accountability and Distributed Leadership

Dave champions the idea of distributed leadership, encouraging accountability at all levels. By empowering individuals to take ownership, organisations foster resilience, agility, and high performance.

Combating the Normalisation of Deviance

Dave and Chris discuss the risks of normalising unsafe behaviours. Drawing from military and aviation examples, they emphasise the importance of leaders maintaining rigorous safety standards and challenging complacency.

Leadership, Integrity, and Ethical Decision-Making

Integrity and ethical leadership are at the heart of effective teams. Dave shares lessons on the impact of values-driven leadership, while Chris reflects on examples of both toxic and exemplary leadership.

Tune in to Part 2 of this powerful conversation with Dave Anderson on Battling with Business!