Critical Thinking and Maverick Leadership: Lessons from a CIA Veteran. In today’s episode Judith Germain speaks to Jeffrey Sanow on critical thinking and leadership lessons from his CIA career. They discuss the importance of critical thinking, especially in high-stakes situations. They emphasise the need to make decisions with incomplete information, be open to failure, and empower teams to take risks and learn.
You can listen to Episode 466 on any of the popular podcast platforms or apps (including Spotify, and Audible). If you prefer to listen to your browser you can do that below. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways
- Critical thinking is crucial for leaders, especially when making decisions with incomplete information
- Empowering team members to take risks and learn from failures is essential for fostering innovation
- Honesty, strong communication, and taking care of your people are fundamental leadership principles
- Experience in government/intelligence roles develops unique leadership skills transferable to other sectors
Topics
Jeffrey Sanow’s Background
- Extensive international experience: Peace Corps in Tunisia and Gabon, worked in India, Greece, Middle East
- CIA career: Monitored proliferation of weapons of mass destruction for 5 years
- Security roles: Head of security for U.S. embassy construction in Pakistan, GM of security company in Uganda
- Currently works as a private investigator and in security
Critical Thinking in Leadership
- Making decisions with 80% of information is a crucial skill for leaders
- Leaders must trust instincts, question information, and be willing to make mistakes
- Empowering team members to take risks and learn from failures fosters innovation
- Good mentoring and the ability to remain calm/objective enhance critical thinking
Preparing for Unpredictable Situations
- Build a solid foundation with a strong, trusted team
- Maintain open, honest communication with team members
- Always operate on “amber alert” – be prepared but not panicked
- Learn from experiences like the COVID-19 pandemic to improve readiness
Cross-Cultural Leadership Challenges
- Honesty and open communication are universal principles
- Recognize that people fundamentally want the same things across cultures
- Be truthful about both challenges and successes with your team
- Control your ego while maintaining a strong sense of self
Qualities of a Good CIA Operative
- Strong personality and ability to connect with people
- Resilience and ability to handle criticism/pressure
- Controlled ego – know when to assert yourself and when to stay quiet
- Good sense of humour combined with strong work ethic
Public vs. Private Sector Leadership
- Civil service careers offer stability and importance, though often lower salaries
- Government roles often require balancing duty, ethics, and orders
- Public sector experience can provide valuable leadership skills for private sector
In this conversation Jeffrey shares insights on how leaders can prepare their teams and organisations for unpredictable changes and challenges. He stresses the importance of building a strong, trusted foundation and taking care of one’s people. They discuss strategies for leaders to effectively navigate cross-cultural environments, including the importance of honesty, open communication, and focusing on shared fundamental human needs.
Jeffrey describes the key traits and skills required to be a successful CIA operative, including having a strong personality, the ability to control one’s ego, and a good sense of humour combined with a strong work ethic.
Jeffrey Sanow is a Veteran CIA Intelligence Officer and Security Expert with a decorated career in critical global operations. Serving in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service and working with senior policy makers in the Office of the Vice President and National Security Council to support policies related to preventing the sale, transfer, or acquisition of weapons of mass destruction.
Jeffrey Sanow can be found on LinkedIn here. His website is here.
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