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Summary of Call Sign Chaos 

4.7 . 6071 reviews

Short summary

Do you find yourself in a leadership position where you have to guide people you don't really know? Are you struggling with other leaders who don't seem to accept your views and see things from your perspective, or are you simply searching for more leadership wisdom to increase your power and influence? Whatever it is you seek, your answer is in this read. Former secretary of defense General Jim Mattis is about to take you back in time to his life in the military and distill crucial leadership lessons he learned as he journeyed from leading small troops to commanding thousands of soldiers in battle. He also teaches you, from experience, how to negotiate with other leaders who aren't willing to accept your views. Call Sign Chaos was co-authored by Bing West, an American author of 11 books and former Marine Grunt. He was also an Assistant Secretary of Defense during the Reagan Administration. “Combining simplicity and thoughtfulness, Jim Mattis has produced a classic account of a lifetime of service. Call Sign Chaos is a lesson in leadership and an evocation of humanity in the cause of peace.” ~ Henry Kissinger

Table of content

  • Summary of Call Sign Chaos
  • About the author
  • What is Call Sign Chaos about?
  • Who should read Call Sign Chaos
  • Topics in Call Sign Chaos
first key point

Every leader starts as a direct leader

Listen the first key point
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Direct leadership is a type of leadership in which you deal directly with a small group of people you already know or can easily get acquainted with. It’s the most basic form of leadership and the point where every leader starts. In every organization, your success as a direct leader will determine if you'll get promoted to higher levels of leadership and influence.

As a direct leader, you most likely won’t have skills and experience in leading others in your field; hence it's vital to learn from people who have gone ahead of you. The same is also true for leaders at higher levels of leadership. Finding and following mentors is so important. You’ll gain so much wisdom from their experience, and as a result, avoid many mistakes you would naturally have made along the line.

If you can't get a committed mentor, just make sure there is a boss whom you look up to, one you can trust to provide the right answers to your questions.
Learning from the experience of others is a wise and less costly thing to do.
In addition to having a mentor or boss, something else you can do is learn from authors and speakers with proven experience. That's the sort of thing you’ll be getting in this summary. In the chapters that follow, we’ll treat different aspects of leadership and principles that have proven to work both in the military and in business. Cut away all distractions as you go through this summary because it promises to be educational and eye–opening.
If you haven't read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren't broad enough to sustain you. ~ Jim Mattis
This summary is not just for direct leaders but for leaders at all levels who want to perform better.

Did you know? Former Defense Secretary James Mattis’ nickname CHAOS isn't just a nickname. It's an acronym for “Colonel Has An (Another) Outstanding Solution.”
second key point

Successful leaders adopt the "recruit for attitude, train for skill" approach

The Marines strongly believe that attitude is a weapon system. Anyone with the right attitude towards the corps is a good catch and should be trained for battle, hence their “recruit for attitude, train for skill mantra.” And this applies not just to the Marine Corps but to every organization.
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third key point

Trusting your subordinates is important for successful leadership

fourth key point

Create an atmosphere for free communication between you and the people you're leading

fifth key point

Listening, learning, and vision boarding are the greatest qualities of a strategic leader

sixth key point

Strategic leadership requires collaboration

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is Call Sign Chaos about?

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.