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McChrystal: Impulsive leaders must surround themselves with deliberate advisors for balance

Stanley McChrystal · #132 Ret. Gen. Stanley McChrystal - The Essence of Leadership · Mar 8, 2022 · at 23:31

Retired General Stanley McChrystal discusses personal decision-making blind spots and leadership team dynamics with Shane Parrish.

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“My tendency is to make decisions too quickly. I have a tendency to get too little information and shoot from the hip and make a decision and let's go. And so what I did learn about myself is I had to bring people around me who were not that way. And every once in a while, I've been lucky enough to get some people around me who, I say this pejoratively, but it's unfair, are hand wringers. They're always seeing the problem, et cetera. And what that does is it gives us a balance because I will sometimes be irresponsibly rapid, superficial. And if I've got people who want to look under every stone and sort out everything, we can meet somewhere in the middle.”

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