May 9, 2023

Episode 40: Lessons in Teamwork & Standardization from Paratrooper John McGlothlin

On this episode of The Future of Teamwork, host Dane Groeneveld, CEO of HUDDL3, speaks with John McGlothlin, a former paratrooper, and author, about how the lessons he learned from the military can help individuals become better teammates. McGlothlin shares how his military experience prepared him to work effectively with people he didn’t hire and deal with unexpected challenges as a team. During their conversation, McGlothlin shares how he distilled the military culture into five “inner traits” crucial for facing any challenge. Tune in to discover how applying these principles can prepare you to work with your teams.

Guest Bio

A writer, lawyer, and former paratrooper currently living in Washington, D.C.

Experienced in both the public and private sectors, in locations around the world, and with organizations ranging from small businesses to the largest employer in America. Licensed to practice law in Washington D.C. and Virginia.

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Recap & Takeaways

[00:11 – 02:56] How John’s background in the military informs his life as a writer
[02:58 – 06:15] Non-combat aspects of the military and the wealth of organizational and training knowledge
[03:55 – 06:15] Basic training and experiencing bootcamp
[06:41 – 10:32] Dealing with unexpected challenges together, and investing/developing your team
[10:35 – 13:25] Navigating that you can’t choose your coworkers or hires in the military
[13:27 – 15:02] Paratrooper training and what helps people deal with nearly anything
[15:02 – 16:21] The importance of self-awareness
[16:22 – 17:25] Using research, and recognizing the phenomenon of “pro-social lying”
[17:27 – 18:40] A unique aspect of the military is that everyone is trained for everything
[18:41 – 20:15] The idea of dual-training admin personnel for combat
[20:20 – 22:49] Exposure to common core trainings
[22:53 – 25:39] The reward for showing initiative
[25:45 – 28:08] Efficiency and focusing on the next game
[28:14 – 30:50] Efficiency, the idea of a skeleton crew, and focusing on your own role
[30:51 – 31:47] Not getting caught in the noise
[31:50 – 35:22] Adaptability and being part of the process
[35:23 – 38:25] Putting time and energy into training, re-skilling, and growth in the modern age
[38:29 – 39:54] Insistence and the ability to coexist
[39:54 – 41:15] Reaching the standard for yourself
[41:16 – 42:54] Why standards are important
[42:57 – 45:06] Holding people accountable and communicating appropriately
[45:07 – 47:46] The importance of documentation in training
[47:47 – 50:48] How people can own their careers with John’s framework