The Program

How do you build a team that not only perseveres in adversity but excels under the most extreme pressure?

1. Build a Team with Core Values

A successful team starts with a clear foundation of core values. Core values act like the glue that binds a team together, providing a shared sense of purpose and direction. Having these unifying principles allows individuals to operate cohesively and trust each other, even in high-stakes situations.

For example, Captain Cory Ross led his Green Beret team in Afghanistan with respect and teamwork, even when they faced uncertainties and threats. By adhering to Afghan customs during a diplomatic meal, they built trust and ensured collaboration with local allies. This act demonstrated the importance of staying committed to shared values.

To create this culture, leaders must live by these values daily. Whether setting standards for punctuality or engaging in open communication, leaders should consistently demonstrate the behavior they expect from their team. If discipline is a value, actions like responding to messages promptly or meeting deadlines reinforce this commitment.

Examples

• Captain Ross prioritizing respect with local partners in Afghanistan.
• Enforcing punctuality to show respect for everyone's time.
• Leaders modeling accountability by meeting the standards they set.

2. Foster Responsibility and Mutual Accountability

Great teams thrive when all members take responsibility not just for themselves but also for holding others accountable. Everyone should meet high standards and support each other to ensure the team’s overall success.

In a Marine Corps exercise, Det 1 prepared for deployment by rigorously testing each member's limits. This training emphasized team accountability, showing how shared responsibility keeps everyone focused and aligned. A “thumb teammate” focuses on their own contributions first, rather than criticizing others for shortcomings.

Holding one another accountable means caring enough to have difficult conversations. True teamwork doesn’t always mean avoiding conflict—it means guiding and challenging each other to perform at their best. Constructive feedback builds trust and ensures that the team stays on track toward shared goals.

Examples

• Det 1’s intensive training focused on teamwork and individual responsibility.
• Thumb teammates emphasizing personal accountability before critiquing others.
• Team members pushing peers to meet shared standards instead of settling for "nice" interactions.

3. True Leaders Prioritize Growth and Well-Being

Effective leaders maintain a balance between achieving team goals and supporting the people they lead. Leaders must hold themselves accountable while also ensuring the group thrives as a unit.

Organizations often promote a stellar performer without considering their leadership ability, leading to dissatisfaction and failure. Real leadership goes beyond success at tasks—it’s about guiding a team to succeed collectively. Leaders define the mission and motivate others to pursue it while safeguarding their team's well-being.

A strong leader also shares successes with their team and takes responsibility for failures. This builds trust and unity, as team members feel valued and supported. Leaders who put their people's needs on par with the mission foster loyalty and long-term success.

Examples

• Recognizing that top performers aren’t inherently great leaders.
• Balancing mission accomplishment with the team’s welfare.
• Sharing credit during triumphs and accepting blame for mistakes.

4. Toughness is Learned Through Preparation

Toughness, both physical and mental, is developed by willingly stepping into challenging situations. It’s not innate but cultivated through consistent effort and preparation for adversity.

Eric Kapitulik likens his journey to summiting Mount Everest to lessons learned in the military, where preparation was the most critical factor. The ability to overcome discomfort builds physical resilience, while mental toughness involves staying calm and making good decisions when under pressure.

Simple practices like fasting or training in adverse weather can build this toughness. Facing small, controlled challenges means you’re better prepared for unexpected hurdles in real life, whether on a battlefield or in the boardroom.

Examples

• Training in extreme conditions to simulate the unexpected.
• Practicing deprivation, like fasting, to improve resilience.
• Staying focused and positive in high-pressure situations.

5. Teams Succeed Through Effective Communication

Strong communication is the backbone of teamwork. It helps eliminate confusion and builds unity, especially in chaotic or high-stress scenarios.

During World War II’s D-Day landing, soldiers stalled on Normandy’s beach until communication reignited momentum. Clear, authoritative communication turned fear into action. This proves that effective dialogue can transform hesitation into collective strength.

The technique CLAPP—Clear, Loud, with Authority, Pauses, and good Posture—enhances verbal communication. Combining this with active listening ensures misunderstandings are avoided and trust is built. Closed-loop communication, where tasks are repeated and confirmed, ensures jobs get done correctly.

Examples

• D-Day soldiers finding strength in forced communication.
• Communicating orders clearly using the CLAPP method.
• Hotel staff using closed-loop communication to deliver seamless service.

6. Set Standards That Reinforce Team Culture

Standards translate values into action. They provide clear expectations and a roadmap for behavior within the team.

For instance, showing strict adherence to punctuality reflects respect and dedication to efficiency. Similarly, standards like responding to calls or emails promptly reinforce discipline and a sense of responsibility. Without clear standards, teams lack direction and might falter.

Leaders must review and adjust the team’s membership if these standards are not met consistently. By maintaining these expectations with zero tolerance for deviation, team values remain intact, and the culture stays robust.

Examples

• Starting every meeting exactly on time to reinforce respect.
• Prompt responses as a standard for reliability.
• Reassigning roles if behavioral standards are repeatedly ignored.

7. Respect Through Consistency and Action

Respect begins with setting clear guidelines and consistently demonstrating them. Leaders gain respect by modeling the standards they enforce.

Captain Cory Ross inspired respect among allies by upholding Afghan traditions despite perceived risks. Such consistency taught his team the significance of respecting different cultures, boosting morale and cooperation.

Respect in teamwork translates into trusting each other to deliver on promises. When team members and leaders align in words and actions, they foster genuine collaboration and commitment.

Examples

• Following local customs as a sign of respect in Afghanistan.
• Consistently demonstrating behaviors leaders expect from others.
• Employees delivering high performance in an environment of mutual respect.

8. Physical and Mental Strength Are Intertwined

True grit comes from training both body and mind to endure and adapt to challenges. One supports the other in the face of difficult situations.

Kapitulik’s Marine training involved physically grueling exercises that also tested participants' mental focus. Building these skills requires deliberate exposure to stress, like solving problems while physically exhausted. It translates into stronger decision-making abilities under pressure.

This approach applies off the battlefield as well—whether it's navigating a business crisis or family emergency. Rigorous habits prepare you to persevere in arduous tasks with clarity and confidence.

Examples

• Climbing mountains as a metaphor for resilience.
• Marine training combining physical exertion and mental focus.
• Handling personal challenges like difficult conversations constructively.

9. Internal Messaging Beats External Noise

In a world bombarded by outside influences, consistent internal communication helps teams stay on task.

Controlled messaging avoids letting distractions from media affect the team's unity. A strong internal narrative that reinforces shared values ensures focus, trust, and cohesion despite external noise.

Repeat key messages at all levels of leadership. This consistency helps defend the team’s mission from being diluted or derailed by conflicting priorities or misinformation.

Examples

• Military groups repeating core principles under outside pressure.
• Corporate teams using consistent messaging to align departments.
• Leaders addressing frequent distractions with impactful reminders.

Takeaways

1. Reinforce shared values with clear daily standards and live them out as a leader.
2. Practice mental and physical toughness by consciously stepping into challenging environments.
3. Prioritize clear, active, and consistent communication to unify your team and achieve goals.