314: Kenneth Harbaugh - The Mission Is Critical

Being part of the military requires going beyond skill and talent–the foundation lies in the grit for the mission to serve. In today’s episode, Kenneth Harbaugh shares his story in the military and how the values from this experience are relevant to leadership. He talks about how important it is for veterans to continue serving their communities after they leave the military and stresses the importance of rewarding talent and drive in this population.Ken Harbaugh is a former Navy pilot and past president of Team Rubicon Global, a disaster relief organization that has helped train over 100,000 veterans as disaster responders. He has served in senior leadership roles at multiple veteran service organizations, and is a prominent commentator on leadership and civil-military affairs, serving as a guest fellow at Yale University and writing for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. He is the host of several award-winning podcasts, including Reclaiming Patriotism (Crooked Media) and Warriors In Their Own Words (Evergreen Podcasts). He holds a BS from Duke University and a JD from Yale Law School.One of the most valuable assets in the workplace is diversity and this is done by promoting the varying perspectives and experiences. Listen closely to Denis and Kenneth as they share their wisdom on how to embrace change.In this episode:Kenneth discusses how veterans bring a unique ethic to their service after leaving the military and his organization helps with the transition into civilian life.Skill and talent in leadership are important, but the ethic of service is a key factor in success.The key thing that makes a good leader is having a real-world mission.Kenneth tackles how President Zelensky has changed people's opinions of him and is changing the way Ukraine feels about itself and about him as a leader.Leadership has had to adapt to different expectations among employers, clients, and customers in the current generation.Leaders need to be aware of the diversity of opinion and experience in order to be successful in today's fast-paced world.Leadership in the business world will have to be even more aware of employee expectations and adapt to changing labor markets.Key Takeaways:Ethic of service is a key factor to successTrue leadership requires stronger actions than wordsWith the changing times arises the need to adapt dramaticallyToday’s generation looks for meaning in the work they doEmbracing diversity allows you to step up in the gameThe lack of awareness is the biggest detriment in today’s worldTweetable Quotes:“There is just this immense reservoir of talent out there among the veteran population. They want to continue being part of something bigger than themselves.” - Kenneth Harbaugh“Leaders have had to grow with the times. And we have to understand that our employees have much different expectations in the 2020s than they did a generation ago.” - Kenneth HarbaughConnect with Kenneth on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Check out the podcasts Warriors In Their Own Words and Burn the Boats. You can also look into Team...