Episode Description

In this episode of the Mission Possible Podcast, I sit down with Bob Sharp, former Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, to explore his unconventional path from aspiring lawyer to admiral. Bob's candid storytelling reveals how he navigated massive organizational complexity—from leading 15,000+ person organizations through crisis to building coalition strategies that actually stick.

What struck me most was Bob's refreshingly honest approach to leadership. He shares why he tells his teams ”I'm wrong every day” and how admitting mistakes early creates environments where people contribute their best thinking. We dive deep into his ”network defeats network” philosophy and why he believes your job as a leader isn't to have all the answers—it's to unleash the potential around you.

Bob walks us through formative moments from Desert Storm operations to post-9/11 intelligence work, explaining how crisis taught him that prescriptive leadership kills innovation. His insights on strategy development—making it ”ours” not ”mine”—and the critical balance between giving broad direction while avoiding over-prescription offer actionable frameworks for any leader facing complexity.

Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or running a major organization, Bob's perspective on being authentically vulnerable while maintaining forward momentum provides a masterclass in leading through uncertainty.

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