Excellent. This is great news that General McChrystal has set up shop with a group like this. Not only that, but the type of leadership training he is providing is very unique and essential for our industry.
Here is the problem we face with today’s PMSC’s. How does corporate communicate and lead all of the various business units and elements of their company, when their company is dispersed globally? Ideally, you would want everyone in the same room and once a day or once a week to discuss, analyze and synthesize the multitude of problems that the company faces. But in our world, that just is not possible. And actually, for many of the large global corporations outside of our industry, this is their reality as well. The question is, how do you connect with your people, and lead a company that is spread all over the world?
So what the McChrystal Group has done here is to develop a leadership system called CrossLead that addresses this problem. How do you lead through an email? How do you inspire and connect with your people via video conferencing? How do you set up your management teams and communications, and how do you leverage technology to actually be a good leader globally? These are some tough questions, but if anyone has any insight as to how to do that, General McChrystal and his team have the experience to do so.
I think this is extremely valuable to PMSC’s, just because this Group understands the complexities of what it is we do. An example would be DynCorp, which has a massive army that includes everything from aviation mechanics and pilots, to police advisers and PSD specialists–just like today’s military. A company like this operates all over the world, and in all of the war zones–just like today’s military. So to me, there is definitely something to be learned here by a master military tactician, leader, and strategist that knows how to leverage today’s technology to deliver the goods.
Below is some information from their website and definitely check out their Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube page for further information. At their Youtube page, you get a taste of some of the training and concepts, and I am sure they will release some stuff in the future. So it pays to subscribe. It also looks like they will be putting on one of their courses at Yale, and if you are interested in implementing CrossLead at your company, definitely give them a call. –Matt
Our Story
McChrystal Group is composed of leadership professionals with a shared background in service. From Navy SEALs to legislative and policy experts, the McChrystal Group brings a wealth of practical leadership experience in running multi-national, multi-agency, culturally diverse, and geographically dispersed organizations. From the battlefield to the boardroom, McChrystal Group has assembled the best leadership practices into a transformational leadership system called CrossLead.The disciplined execution of CrossLead by a committed set of leaders will enable an organization to achieve the following results:
1. Dramatically improved shared consciousness and purpose
2. Faster and more inclusive decision-making
3. Better data and knowledge management
4. Rapid dissemination of best and worst practices
5. Optimized utilization of technology
6. Increased organizational transparency to enable accountability in executionDevelopment Programs
McChrystal Group will fully customize professional development programs to teach business executives and public leaders how to lead and organize networks in dynamic and challenging environments.
Single-day executive leadership program
These events are designed to discuss and relate CrossLead principles with an organization’s leadership team. The scope of work can range from a panel discussion with experienced professionals to facilitating an offsite engagement for key leaders.
Multi-day tailored executive leadership program
McChrystal Group will custom develop programs, including seminars and practical exercises that expose leaders to CrossLead mechanics and processes. The programs can range in size and can be hosted on site or at a destination location.
Comprehensive executive leadership development program
McChrystal Group will work with senior management to custom design a professional development program that challenges leaders to perform in tailored scenarios that best represent the unique requirements of their organization. This program will complement an organization’s professional development goals to include assessing individuals’ performance and potential, as well as team building through immersion in CrossLead principles, processes and mechanics.Team
McChrystal Group is composed of leadership professionals with a shared background in service. From Navy SEALs to legislative and policy experts, McChrystal Group brings a wealth of practical leadership experience in running multi-national, multi-agency, culturally diverse, and geographically dispersed organizations. We are actively seeking the right people to join our growing team.
General (ret.) Stanley A. McChrystal
GEN McChrystal is a retired four-star general and the former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing the current counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a comprehensive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. General McChrystal is currently the co-founder of the McChrystal Group, a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs where he teaches a course on leadership in operation, and an advisor to the White House’s Joining Forces initiative aimed at assisting military families.
David Silverman
David Silverman is the co-founder and CEO of the McChrystal Group. He is a combat decorated veteran and former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998.
Curt Cronin
Curt Cronin is a combat decorated veteran and former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 and joined the McChrystal Group in June 2011.
Command Sergeant Major (ret.) Mike Hall
CSM Hall has over 33 years of experience managing and leading diverse organizations. He is decorated combat veteran. His last tour of duty was the Senior Enlisted Adviser for all U.S. and Coalition personnel in Afghanistan where he helped advise more than 125,000 combat troops from 45 countries. He is responsible for division-level leadership engagement. He joined the McChrystal Group in January 2011.
Jenny Harper
Jenny Harper is a former policy advisor for military and appropriations to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). She graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in economics and political science and joined the McChrystal Group in January 2011.
Rob Myers
Rob Myers is a combat decorated veteran and former U.S. Navy SEAL Officer. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1998. He joined the McChrystal Group in May 2011.
Brooke Neuman
Brooke Neuman served in Afghanistan as Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) Special Advisor to the Commander, International Security Assistance Force. She was also an adviser for Middle East and Central Asian foreign and defense policies. She studied international relations at the Johns Hopkins University. She joined the McChrystal Group in January 2011.
Brigadier General (Ret.) Craig Nixon
Craig Nixon is the former Deputy Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division (North) in Iraq. Previously, he served as the Director of Operations for U.S. Special Operations Command and led the 75th Ranger Regiment during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. He joined the McChrystal Group in July 2011 and is the principal for Leadership Development and Education.
Lieutenant General (ret.) John Randolph Vines
LTG Vines is the former commander of the U.S. Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps and Multi-National Corps – Iraq. Vines previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division during the U.S. deployment to Afghanistan. LTG Vines was a Department of Defense Mentor to US Army senior leadership and deploying combat units. He is the principal adviser for Executive leadership. He joined the McChrystal Group in January 2011.
Dana W. White
Dana White is a former professional staff member and foreign policy advisor for Senator John McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Chinese history and joined the McChrystal Group in January 2011.Link to website here.
