From Battlefield to Boardroom: Leadership Lessons with Joe Frankie III

Joe Frankie III has an incredible story — from military service to corporate leadership. And the lessons he brought from the battlefield to the boardroom are genuinely applicable for anyone leading a team.

Military Leadership Is Not What You Think

When most people think "military leadership," they think top-down, command-and-control, do-as-I-say. Joe's experience was the opposite. The best military leaders, he explained, lead through trust, empowerment, and clear communication.

In combat, the leader can't micromanage. Situations change too fast. You have to trust your team to make decisions. That requires training, clear objectives, and — critically — a culture where people aren't afraid to act.

Lessons for Business

Mission Clarity Everyone should be able to explain the mission in one sentence. If they can't, leadership hasn't communicated well enough.

Decentralized Decision-Making The people closest to the problem are usually the best equipped to solve it. Give them the authority to act.

After-Action Reviews After every significant event, the military does a structured review: what happened, what went well, what could improve. No blame, just learning. Businesses that do this improve faster than those that don't.

Taking Care of Your People Joe's most powerful point: leaders eat last. Take care of your team first. Their success is your success. It sounds simple, but it's rare in practice.

The Takeaway

Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about building a team that can find answers without you. Whether you're managing a squad or a sales team, the principles are the same.