234. Need to Know: Lead With Transparency, Character, and Silence

When it comes to leading a team, there’s no such thing as too much information. Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley McChrystal , that means creating a culture of free-flowing information: “The goal is to have everyone know everything all the time,” he says. McChrystal is a retired four-star general, former commander of US and international forces in Afghanistan, and a renowned leadership expert. In his experience building cohesive teams in complex environments, he’s discovered that successful teams are built on a “shared consciousness [where] all have a common contextual understanding of what the situation is.” The key to creating that kind of culture, he says, is radical transparency — from leaders and subordinates alike. Whatever your position, “You are responsible for informing other people of things that they need to know,” he says. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , McChrystal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build shared consciousness within teams, how to communicate across cultural divides, and how to lead with clarity, context, and character. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium . Episode Reference Links: General Stanley McChrystal General McChrystal’s Books: On Character / Team of Teams 155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly 161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You’re Talking To Connect: Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn , Instagram , YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (02:29) - Building Shared Consciousness (06:39) - Leading Across Differences (08:19) - Delivering Difficult News (10:44) - Communicating in a Virtual World (16:43) - Character as an Iterative Practice (18:53) - The Final Three Questions (23:19) - Conclusion ******** Thank you to our sponsors. These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost. This episode is brought to you by Babbel . Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.