#119 How to better lead and serve with Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE

When it comes down to startups, organisations and businesses, it's great to have a set of values and a mission statement, right?  Especially when you actually believe in them and live by them. Problem is, the vast majority of organisations today still use these vital ingredients as mere condiments, and this negatively impacts team moral and overall performance.  But what if I told you that the secret to fixing this and becoming the best leader you can be, and install a winning culture in your workplace was to learn from someone who put his neck on the line for his men and woman and got shot. Literally.  Well, today's very special guest on the show is Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE, a former Specialist Military Unit Colonel in the British Armed Forces who served the British Army for 22 years and who spent 82 months deployed on operations in complex and hostile environments (including Central Asia, the Middle East, Northern Ireland and the Balkans).  On top of all of that, Ash was a senior special advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Interior between 2011 and 2014 and directed command and control of Afghan and coalition elements during high profile terrorist incidents. He also served as NATO’s Special Operations Component Command, where he oversaw the complex drawdown of coalition forces in 2014.  Needless to say, when it comes down to complex and hostile situations, and getting people to work together, Ash is the man for the situation. As you'll hear in today's powerful conversation, Ash and his troops were ambushed in 2003 in Iraq, leaving him in a unique and dangerous situation that hopefully only a few people in the world will ever have to experience. As a former elite athlete representing Team GB and a man leading woman and men into battle, this is one of the most inspiring conversations you'll hear on what it takes to build adaptable and high performing teams through compassionate and mission-driven leadership. As always I'd love to hear your thoughts so make sure to tag me @markleruste and Ash @ashalexcooper over on Instagram or any social media platform of your choice. Until then, it is a great honour and privilege to introduce you the one and only Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE! To your impact, Mark SHOW NOTES www.theunconventionalists.com/episode/119 GET IN TOUCH Website: www.theunconventionalists.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/markleruste YouTube: www.youtube.com/markleruste Facebook: www.facebook.com/markleruste Twitter: www.twitter.com/markleruste LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/markleruste