Building High-Performing Teams: A Leadership Brief for ISSA Colorado Springs This leadership class was developed for the Colorado Springs chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA®), a global nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the professional growth of cybersecurity practitioners. The session focused on cultivating high-performing teams by strengthening three foundational pillars: accountability, transparency, and mutual respect. Designed specifically for information security professionals, the class explored practical strategies for: Establishing clear expectations and ownership across roles Promoting open communication and trust within technical teams Fostering a culture of respect that drives collaboration and innovation By aligning leadership principles with the unique demands of cybersecurity environments, this brief empowers ISSA members to lead with clarity, integrity, and impact.

1. BUILDING HIGH-PERFORMING
CYBERSECURITY TEAMS: LEADERSHIP THAT
SECURES THE FUTURE!

2. 2

3. AGENDA OVERVIEW
 My Background and Leadership Philosophy
 Cornerstone: Personal Readiness
 Strategic Meekness
 Diversity of Thought
 The Big 3 Leadership Rules
 Application to Cybersecurity
 Insights from Key Books
 Takeaways and Q&A
3

4. MY
PROFESSIONAL
BACKGROUND

5. 5
MISSION STATEMENT:
ISSA promotes a secure digital world through education,
collaboration, & leadership. (From ISSA Mission Statement)
How to?
 Foster integrity, excellence, and respect in Cyber teams.
 Apply military principles to manage technology risk &
protect infrastructure.

6. 6
Cornerstone: Personal Readiness
You can’t fix THEM, until you fix YOU!
 Self-discipline & accountability as the foundation.
 Time management is key.
 Do the hard things first & Take time to sharpen the axe

7. 7
Levels of Leadership
Definition: “Meekness is absolute authority coupled with complete restraint.”
(Inspired by George Washington as the American Cincinnatus)
 Tactical: Influence through providing purpose, direction, & motivation.
(ADP 6-22)
 Operational: Focus on mission execution, team alignment, and
adaptability.
 Strategic: It isn’t vision, collaborative influence, or cultural stewardship—
it’s disciplined coordination and accountability to drive strategic outcome
Cybersecurity leaders must coordinate defenses across networks
with discipline, not just inspiration.

8. 8
True DEI isn’t as advertised: It’s Diversity of Thought
Real diversity isn't focused on the wrapping paper; it's focused on the
contents—diversity of thought.
 Avoid groupthink by leveraging unique perspectives.(e.g., Amazon
Leadership Principles: Bias for Action, Are Right a Lot)
 Select for complementary strengths
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”– Stephen R. Covey

9. Amazon DEI
Project

10. 10
Big 3 Leadership Rules
"His leadership was not of gesture but of character; he led by example, not by
proclamation, and his restraint magnified his authority." – Ron Chernow,
Washington: A Life (2010)
 Rule 3: Don’t let words get in the way of candid dialogue & civil discourse
(collab)
 Rule 2: Facts don’t care about feelings. (data-driven w/ positive emotion)
 Rule 1: Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you
care. (mutual respect- most important)
These rules, honed in combat and industry, build resilient teams.
Rule #1—mutual respect—is the foundation, as trust drives all

11. APPLYING
MILITARY
PRINCIPLES TO
CYBERSECURITY
Discipline & Precision: Lead through chaos.
Trust & Accountability: Own outcomes.
Resilience: Get comfortable being
uncomfortable.

12. 12
7 Habits of Highly Effective People Insights
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule but to schedule
your priorities." – Covey
 Be Proactive: Take responsibility for your actions and behaviors. Don’t
react.
 Begin with the End in Mind: Define your personal mission & long-term
goals.
 Put First Things First: Prioritize what matters most. Focus on important
tasks.
 Think Win-Win: Seek mutual benefit in all interactions. Cultivate
abundance.
 Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Practice empathetic
listening.
 Synergize: Combine strengths through teamwork.
 Sharpen the Saw: Continuously renew yourself — P/M/E/S.

13. 13
Deliberate Discomfort Insights
"When you make the courageous decision to deliberately choose
discomfort, you prove to yourself that you are no longer satisfied with
the way things are and you won’t tolerate it any longer. You’re for
change, for growth."– JVC
 Embrace discomfort for growth.
 Accountability through trust
 Lead through shared struggle
 Embrace failure as feedback

14. Extreme Ownership insights
“There are no bad teams, only bad
leaders.” – Jocko & Babin
Full accountability, no blame.
Prioritize and Execute
14

15. 15
Cybersecurity Application Metrics
“”As conflict between states evolves, the cyberspace is becoming an
increasingly vital component of strategy and doctrine for war fighting." – Lt.
Gen. Michael T. Flynn, The Field of Fight (2016)
 Strategic Imperative
 Leadership Application
 Relevance Today

16. 16
Key Takeaways
 Prioritize mutual respect (Rule #1) as the leadership cornerstone.
 Use data-driven decisions and candid dialogue to support trust.
 Embrace personal readiness and disciplined execution.
 Leverage diversity of thought.
 Draw from military or professional books for resilience.

17. 17
Call to Action
 Schedule 1:1s with you team this week to build trust
 Read one of the three books within 30 days

18. THANK YOU
Josh Salem
Senior Military Operations Analyst
Space and Missile Defense School (SMDC)
Army Space Training Division (ASTD)
josh.salem@proton.me
719-248-1688
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-salem/