General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., served as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. His insight and leadership experience are nearly unmatched.

In this episode, General Dunford discusses critical lessons he’s learned that - if taken to heart - could change the way we lead in the future for the better, with host Gary Heil.

Drawing from extensive military experience, Dunford stresses the need for leaders to surround themselves with good people, the importance of building an environment of trust (and how to do so), and what sets a successful plan development process apart from one bound to fail.

Other critical takeaways include:

• The importance of getting dissent up front in the vision-setting and planning process.
• The importance of an honest feedback loop.
• What it means for leaders to figuratively cross the Grand Canyon.
• What it took to build a global integrator to launch the U.S. military into the future.
• The difference between management and leadership, and how we often get it wrong.

This conversation may just be the foundational piece needed to build teams of today, into what’s necessary for the post-COVID world.

As Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013-2017, James Comey’s mettle has been tested time and time again throughout a career committed first and foremost to serving his country. During his time at the Department of Justice, Comey confronted new threats against Americans at home and abroad, prosecuting terrorists and leading the country’s confrontation of domestic terrorism.

Part of prioritizing the interests of the country he swore to serve above all else meant confronting another challenge head on: a crisis of leadership within the FBI. In this episode, he discusses the very essence of leadership with host Gary Heil in candid, open, and honest conversation.

Critical takeaways include:

• Why the evaluation of promotion of leaders must start with a focus on values.
• The integral combination of meaningful work and meaningful relationships.
• What humor and humility have to do with leading effectively.
• Why doubt must be a part of the decision making process from the very start until after a decision is made.
• Why diversity and inclusion tactics so often fail - and how there’s a better way to create change in this mission-critical area.

Learn more about our speakers:

Gary Heil: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/gary-heil/

James Comey: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/james-comey/

About the series:

Presented weekly, Leadership Lessons from the Fast Lane explores some of the most pressing challenges that leaders of today face, with the world’s most respected, creative, and successful thought leaders.

Visit our website: https://www.wsb.com/

Contact us: https://www.wsb.com/contact/

Celebrated historian Dr. Nancy Koehn did not expect to write a book about crisis leadership. But as she studied many experiences of history’s transformational leaders, she discovered that so often great leadership is developed out of one’s ability to both learn from failure and to rise to inspire others.

During this discussion, Koehn shares some of the critical crisis leadership lessons from her book Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times with host Gary Heil. Together they examine the similarities and circumstances that shape courageous leaders and how these lessons apply to leaders facing the tumultuous business landscape and ongoing global crises of today.

Key takeaways:

• What courageous leadership looks like in action.
• How the best leaders are often forged through failure.
• Why leadership is more than choices: it's a reflection of who you are in crisis.
• The power of purpose in leadership: why meaning and value are critical.
• Why great leaders must balance passion with emotional self-discipline to inspire hope.

Learn more about our speakers:

Gary Heil: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/gary-heil/

Nancy Koehn: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/nancy-koehn/

About the series:

Presented weekly, Leadership Lessons from the Fast Lane explores some of the most pressing challenges that leaders of today face, with the world’s most respected, creative, and successful thought leaders.

Visit our website: https://www.wsb.com/

Contact us: https://www.wsb.com/contact/