Leadership at its core can be a hard business. Sometimes it takes the insight gleaned from a few tough lessons to make impactful inroads on using this critical skill. Organizations such as the military build on this truth with a lessons learned approach following a major battle. Also leadership is not an entity unto itself; it blends other attributes, traits, and competencies that we bring from our roles in life and work. So how do we come to value this mix and use it for success personally and organizationally? This presentation explores a model similar to military service that can facilitate mastering your leadership campaign.

1. Hardcore Leadership
Master Lessons for Creating Personal and
Organizational Success
Deborah L. Parker
The DPJ Training Group
Leesburg, VA
dlparker6@verizon.net

2. Discussion Objectives
• Assess and build on leadership
style from a variety of situations
• Understand the importance of
hardcore leadership in a changing
and challenging environment

3. Execution

4. GRIT - Implications, Definitions
HARDCORE
What words come to mind?
Let’s look at the following images

6. VUCA
Hardcore Leadership Needed
Today’s Environment
• V = Volatility. The nature and dynamics of change, the
speed of change forces and catalysts.
• U = Uncertainty. The lack of predictability and the
prospects for surprise
• C = Complexity. The myriad of change forces along
with the chaos and confusion they bring
• A = Ambiguity. The haziness of reality, the potential for
misreads, and the mixed meanings of conditions
The US Army War College

7. ExtractExtract
Reconcile/BalanceReconcile/Balance
PreservePreserve
Give Honor, AcknowledgeGive Honor, Acknowledge
Leadership is Personal: Discover Your Grit SourceLeadership is Personal: Discover Your Grit Source

8. Packing and Unpacking Your GritPacking and Unpacking Your Grit
Think of one of the most difficult times in yourThink of one of the most difficult times in your
life (professional or personal).life (professional or personal).
How did you get through the situation?How did you get through the situation?
What did you learn about yourself and howWhat did you learn about yourself and how
has that experience impacted yourhas that experience impacted your
leadership style?leadership style?

9. "The only way to discover the limits
of the possible is to go beyond them
into the impossible."
Anonymous

10. Your VUCA Mission
• Vision
• Understanding
• Clarity
• Adaptability
The Institute for the Future fellow Bob Johansen

11. Your Hardcore Creed
• Fundamental beliefs
• Guiding principles
• Authoritative statements
– Keep you on course
– Linked to purpose and vision

13. A Winning Leadership Campaign
• Rework your mission and vision
Intel on your current situation?
• Working and not
• Take ownership of AOR (area of responsibility)
• Be agile and alert to new ways of doing the work of
leadership
Gain momentum in your key areas of impact and influence
Rebuild trust and engage in damage control when needed
• Execute with all of your assets and abilities

14. Lead on! Press forward!

15. Courageously Execute
 Get Organized
 Stay Focused
 Make Tough Decisions
 Act to Move Out
 Evaluate the Process
 Ignite Passion Along the Way
 Claim Victory at Critical Points

16. Hardcore Leadership:
11 Master Lessons from My Airborne
Ranger Uncle’s “Final Jump”
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C01XPUY