How Leadership (Actually) Works: A Navy SEAL’s Complete System for Coordinating Teams

by Larry Yatch

Everything you've been taught about leadership is backward, beginning with the costly mistake that causes you to sacrifice money, time, and human capital day after day. It's not a calculation error or a problem with management style—it's repeatedly choosing revenue and results over connection and team.

Larry Yatch is a ten-year U.S. Navy SEAL turned business consultant who has reverse-engineered the behaviors that make the SEALs the most elite and connected teams on the planet. In How Leadership (Actually) Works, Larry shares his six-pillar system that companies of any size in any domain can use for sustainable and easier success. This practical manual will show you how to effectively structure teams, manage behavior, maximize self-regulation, and become the leader you need to be so everyone thrives.

From the largest special ops mission in U.S. history to the biggest boardrooms and smallest classrooms, follow Larry's journey to discover the missing links between effort and efficacy that will revolutionize how you perceive team success. The work isn't easy, but nothing exceptional is.

Genres: Leadership, Business

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[Roy Peek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. New insights to how to Manage/Lead and more importantly how to define the Desired End State and then communicate effectively with everyone to coordinate actions toward the Desired end State. Very valuable read and I promise you If you read till the end, you will gain insights and things that can improve you management ability to help motivate followers to execute toward that desired end state but as much as follow, enable everyone on the team to also lead with their strengths to help the team accomplish that Desired End State.

Please take the time to read and understand the principles and concept from Yatch. Well worth the time to take to read.

[Milos Mirosavljevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the topic of leadership, but from a different angle compared to what we're used to. The author is an ex-navy SEAL, and that experience heavily influences his approach to leadership.

I especially liked how to redefined what "manager vs. leader" means (you will be surprised) and one of his motos: never fail to plan, but always plan to fail. The latter teaches us to always asses how our venture can fail, what we can do to prevent it, and what to do if it happens.

Overall, very interesting book with many great insights on the topic of leadership.

[Marie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once you get past the sales pitch to sign up for one of their courses, this book covers multiple aspects of leadership. Some include Managers vs. Leaders, Success vs. Achievement, Coordinated Action, Shared Background of Experience, Clear Purpose, Connection (like bricks and mortar), the OODA loop for fighter pilots, your most valuable asset is your attention,
Self-development comes before leading others along,
Lead and follow in turn, depending on best choices and bed actions at any time.

[D.J. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leadership-changing…no, life-changing book

This is one of the best books on Leadership that I’ve read in a while. It is very thought provoking, sensible, backed with real-life examples, approachable, accessible, inspirational and, most of all, actionable (doable). I have a lot of work to do to reach the desired end state this book has evoked but I feel it’s nothing short of 100% possible. Big thanks to Larry and his team for bringing this body of work to the world.

[Christina Arbogast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this as an audiobook, but enjoyed so many aspects that I ended up purchasing the paperback. I liked the different way of delving into the leadership model that was applicable for me in my position. I also liked how Larry related aspects to personal experiences. I know there is more to this framework, but I felt like the plugs about the other courses were a tad overdone.

[Piers Blackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This insightful book outlines the principles of leadership based on coordinated operations by teams based during the author’s real-life experience as a Navy Seal. Empowerment and close communication among the team is central to applying nine functional pillars. These guidelines have application to a wide range of business, civic and volunteer situations.

[Samuel Asiedu Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible

This has been an awesome read. It tackles leadership from a aerial view perspective that allows to see why we need to do certain things or take certain actions because of the desired end result. With a good perspective, we can know why we need to commit to our group, sacrifice for the group and assist our team to achieve greatness within themselves and for their task.

[Steven Haiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leadership from a different perspective

I enjoyed the book and learned a lot. I feel that more examples from business and the Seals would have helped. He needed to go in depth in these examples and the ones he used to solidly the concept and the execution.

[Rafal Gruszczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic. A lot of definitions. When it comes to the planning and implementation it becomes interesting. For those who are just about to define or switch the paradigm of management. Good start, especially if you are motivated by the special forces derived ideas and context. It is ok.

[Kenneth Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to polish their management skills.

[Shawn M Friang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A completely new way of leading that focuses on empowering the team and bonds them together with a shared understanding. A powerful tool that works well in person and with remote teams.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical advice on organizing a strong team. Cohesion and support is a theme throughout book and is supported using concrete examples. Very well written.

[Cameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not finish. Forgot what it was even about.