What do you do when the pressure is mounting and people are looking to you for answers? Admiral William McRaven has been there– leading high-stakes missions as a Navy SEAL, including the raid that brought down Osama bin Laden. In this episode, the four-star admiral and bestselling author of Make Your Bed and Conquering Crisis shares battle-tested leadership lessons that apply far beyond the military. We dive into how to stay steady under pressure, earn trust when the path isn’t clear, and lead with conviction even when you don’t have all the answers. Admiral McRaven breaks down the mindset that separates good leaders from great ones, and why resilience, humility, and clarity of mission matter more than ever in today’s world.

Show Notes

• Are great leaders born or made? (2:29)
• Servant leadership in practice (3:29)
• The 4 things that will earn you respect as a young leader: work hard; learn the business of the business; be a good teammate; be a good person (6:28)
• Your job as a leader is to keep people focused on the mission
• Leading the raid that captured Osama bin Laden (13:36)
• Why Admiral McRaven never felt great pressure before big missions or great elation after a successful mission (16:07)
• The biggest mistake leaders make when faced with a crisis (19:43)
• The importance of clarity of mission (22:55)
• How to motivate people to embrace change (25:22)
• “Your proximity to the target has nothing to do with your value to the mission.” (27:49)
• How to lead when you don’t have all the answers (31:27)
• The difference between those who make it through SEALS training (34:39)
• A powerful metaphor on knowing what to prioritize in life (39:46)

Resources / People Mentioned

• Conquering Crisis by William McRaven
• Make Your Bed by William McRaven
• University of Texas Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven
• The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by William McRaven
• General David Petraeus 
• Osama bin Laden raid
• Once An Eagle by Anton Myrer
• All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

• General Stan McChrystal on How to Lead through Change and Uncertainty
• Rorke Denver on Leadership Lessons from a NAVY SEAL
• Simon Sinek on How to Lead with an Infinite Mindset

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review.