#16 Leadership Lessons with Navy Veteran Jim Little

Communication and Leadership: Insights from a Navy Veteran with Jim LittleIn this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff sits down with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and senior reliability engineer with PIP company. Jim shares invaluable leadership insights drawn from his extensive career across various roles in maintenance, reliability, and safety management in industrial manufacturing. From his early days in the Navy to leading teams and driving change in resistant environments, Jim emphasizes the importance of communication, leading by example, and building trust. He discusses transitioning from military to civilian roles, the challenges of driving change in today's work climate, and offers practical advice for aspiring leaders, emphasizing the importance of listening, patience, and making work enjoyable. 00:00 Introduction and Employee Feedback00:28 Welcome to the Learning to Lead Show00:40 Meet Jim Little: Navy Veteran and Leadership Expert02:33 Jim's Leadership Journey from Navy to Industry03:38 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Maintenance Role07:26 Leadership Lessons from the Paper Mill Turnaround10:26 Challenges and Strategies in Leadership14:56 Building Trust and Effective Communication16:50 Driving Change in Industrial Manufacturing18:39 Key Traits of a Great Leader20:07 Leading Up and Managing Peers25:43 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges31:29 Final Thoughts and Encouragement34:06 Conclusion and Call to ActionFree Learning To Lead ResourcesFree Book: The Trust GapThe Learning To Lead NewsletterLeaderNotes🔎 About LeaderNotesLeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.Contact Mark at: [email protected]