Leadership

In any high-performing team — whether on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or in daily life — priorities will inevitably conflict. Projects compete for limited time and resources. Teams face clashing demands. Requests will come down from above that may be ambiguous or unclear. And leaders are the ones who

Workplace conflicts often feel like arm-wrestling matches—tug-of-wars over priorities, resources, or direction. They’re frustrating, inefficient, and they drain team performance. These moments are often chalked up to “misalignment”. But what if we’re not misaligned at all—just focused on the wrong level? That’s where the Ladder of Alignment can help with

No matter the environment, when teams miss the mark, we want to find someone to blame. Perhaps priorities are misunderstood, execution falters, or people seem disengaged. And it’s easy to blame the team. But at Echelon Front, we believe there are no bad teams, only bad leaders. Communication is at

What is Alignment? When we work with businesses at Echelon Front, we often hear people say things like: “we can’t agree,” or “we have competing priorities,” or “they don’t get it.” These situations often prompt leaders to ask, How do I implement team alignment, in the face of competing viewpoints. 

Let’s lay the foundation: leadership belongs to those who step up, regardless of gender. It’s about mindset. It’s about ownership. And it’s about taking responsibility for outcomes, no matter the obstacles. That said, I’ve spent over a decade leading teams, working alongside women in high-pressure environments, and navigating leadership from

Jocko has always said: “Few things actually matter. Align your energy and your will on the things that do.” I’ve thought a lot about that idea. Especially when trying to sort through the endless noise, distractions, and priorities pulling at me from every direction. And recently, I was reminded of

Eight years ago, I booked Jocko for a keynote scheduled the day after another engagement he had in Florida. At the time of booking, I called him and told him there was only one flight available that night that would get him to where he needed to be for the

Every leader eventually faces a moment when the situation is outside their control. The market shifts. A client’s business goes under. The weather forecast predicts rain. A competitor encroaches on companies. Circumstances change without warning, and external forces threaten all the team has been working towards.  In those moments, stress

One of the most dangerous things a leader can allow – on a team, in a family, or in themselves – is a victim mentality. I’ve seen it firsthand in the Marine Corps, business, parenting, and people from all walks of life. It doesn’t discriminate. The victim mindset can show

When people hear “leadership training,” they often picture boardrooms, business seminars, or maybe even military troops preparing for combat. They don’t usually picture dinner tables, bedtime routines, or the chaos of getting kids out the door for school. And yet, the most critical leadership role many of us will ever

In leadership, change is constant, there are unknowns in every direction, and uncertainty is everywhere.  But as human beings, we like to know what to expect and anticipate what’s going to happen. We want answers. We want clarity. And when we don’t get the desired information—when plans change, details are

From Blame to Ownership: Breaking Free from a Victim Mentality Life is full of unfair, unfortunate, and unforeseen events. Things are going to happen to you that are out of our control. And when that happens, our natural human tendency is to find someone or something to blame.  That is

Uncertainty is an inevitable part of life. Whether it manifests in personal challenges, professional dilemmas, or societal changes, the inability to predict every outcome can leave us feeling vulnerable and unprepared. Throughout history, uncertainty has tested leaders, innovators, and individuals alike. Understanding how to deal with uncertainty is not merely

How to overcome victim mentality? The answer is ownership. Early in my time at Echelon Front, I was at an event with Jocko. During the Q&A session, a man stood up. His face was heavy with emotion. His voice was tense, not with anger, but with something deeper. Desperation. “You

Worry robs you of time, clarity, and peace in your mind, especially when it’s directed at things beyond your control. You don’t control the economy. You can’t stop people from judging you. You can’t rewrite the past. So why waste our mental energy trying? If you’ve ever wondered how to

Victim Mentality Is a Choice. Reclaim Ownership of Your Life. We’ve all been there, facing a situation that feels unfair, frustrating, or beyond our control. It’s in these moments that victim mentality sneaks in. It whispers, “This isn’t your fault.” It tempts us with blame. It convinces us we’re stuck.

One of the core principles of Echelon Front’s leadership philosophy is that we are not only Leaders at work. We are Leaders in every capacity in our lives. At work, in our communities, within ourselves, and most importantly, in our families. Quite commonly, it is easy for most of us

When we think of leadership, our minds often go to the business world, military operations, or high-performing athletic teams. But one of the most important arenas for leadership is closer to home—our families. Family life is filled with challenges, from managing schedules to resolving conflicts. While these problems may seem

Every family experiences challenges. Whether it’s communication breakdowns, financial stress, loss of a job or relative, or unresolved conflicts, these issues can strain relationships and create lingering tension. But what are family issues, and how can they be better handled to promote a tighter connection and strength in relationships rather

Relationships are paramount. In fact, they sit at the center of everything we do as leaders. No amount of strategy, experience, or authority can make up for a lack of genuine connection with the people you’re trying to lead. Without strong relationships, our words lack weight, our direction lacks clarity,

When people hear the word “leadership,” most default to thinking about the workplace—about managing teams, setting direction, and making high-stakes decisions, but that view is incomplete. Leadership isn’t just a professional skill—it’s a human one. At its core, leadership is about how we influence and care for others. And there’s