What Are Extreme Ownership Leadership Strategies?
When people hear “Extreme Ownership,” they’re often wary. It sounds intense, maybe even over the top. But Extreme Ownership is a simple yet powerful leadership strategy. As a leader, you take full responsibility for everything in your world. There is no room for excuses or blame. If it impacts your mission, you have the power to solve the problem.
At Echelon Front, we work with individuals and teams every day who question what are extreme ownership leadership strategies. Through leadership training, their minds are opened to these concepts, and they understand that ownership is essential in leadership. Leaders stop pointing fingers and start finding solutions. Teams align, problems get solved, and organizations move forward.
So, what are Extreme Ownership leadership strategies – and how can you implement them to be the most effective leader?
1. Take Ownership of Everything in Your World.
The foundation of Extreme Ownership is simple. If something goes wrong, you are responsible. You own it. There are no excuses; there is no one else to blame.
But this doesn’t mean you admit your fault and move on. You not only identify the problem but also understand how it impacted others and how you contributed to it. You are also responsible for fixing the problem. Leaders not only solve problems but also implement solutions that prevent them from recurring in the future.
When leaders stop shifting blame, they start building trust. When teams see their leaders step up and own problems, they’re more likely to do the same.
Q: How do I take ownership of a mistake?
A: The next time something fails, instead of automatically blaming someone else or finding an excuse, ask yourself: ‘How is this my fault?” Then, look for the next steps to fix the problem, and ask: “What can I do to solve this and prevent it from happening again?”
2. Cover and Move
No one can accomplish the mission alone. No team operates in isolation. When departments, divisions, and individuals mutually support each other, everyone is more likely to win.
To foster this teamwork, teams must break down silos and build strong relationships. If one team is overloaded, another steps in. If priorities clash, leaders work together to align them.
Q: How should I start to cover for my team?
A: Identify one area where another department needs support, and proactively offer help. You will build relationships, integrate teams, and set a better standard for teamwork going forward. Next time you confront an issue, the other team will likely support you.
3. Keep It Simple, Clear, and Concise
Complexity leads to confusion. The mission gets lost when communication is overly detailed or filled with jargon. A complicated plan can have catastrophic outcomes when unexpected contingencies arise. If the team doesn’t understand or remember what you said, it’s not on them. It’s up to you to communicate more simply. Leaders must clarify and simplify their priorities to ensure everyone understands the goal.
Q: How should I lead meetings to be simpler?
A: Cut your plan down to one page before your next meeting. If you can’t explain it simply, it isn’t clear enough yet.
4. Prioritize and Execute
Chaos is inevitable. Priorities will conflict, problems will arise, and pressure will hit. But the best leaders don’t try to solve everything at once. They lead by focusing the team on the highest priority, solving it, and then moving to the next.
If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. If you’re trying to fix everything at once, you’ll only spread your teams thin and be prone to failure. Instead, detach. Pause, look around at the situation, and then make a call to solve the most important problem first.
Q: How can I handle stressful priorities?
A: In the next stressful moment, stop and ask: “What’s the single most important thing we need to accomplish right now?” By practicing this tool called detachment, you can objectively identify what’s most important to take action on.
5. Decentralized Command
Leaders can’t—and shouldn’t—make every decision. The key to a high-performing team is members who are empowered to lead at every level.
Leaders must provide clear guidance on the mission, the team’s end-state goal. Then, they should set guardrails and parameters within which the team can operate. Finally, they should step back so people can execute.
A team can accomplish so much more than any individual alone. So, when you have a team full of leaders, you have an unstoppable team.
Q: How can I empower my team with a decentralized command strategy?
A: Choose one decision you normally make, and delegate it this week. Share your intent and why it matters, then let your team take ownership.
Conclusion
Extreme Ownership leadership strategies aren’t just theory. These Laws of Combat are practical tools that Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin tested on the battlefield by building effective teams and accomplishing their mission. These principles build trust, improve communication, create team alignment, and empower leaders at every level. When leaders take ownership, the team no longer makes excuses; they execute.
There is no perfect leader, and Extreme Ownership doesn’t demand it. It’s about learning from these lessons and holding yourself accountable to a higher standard. When leaders live and embrace these leadership strategies, their teams follow. That’s how these strategies can lead a team to victory.
