In this episode of The Art of Succession podcast, host Barrett Young interviews Joe Bogdan, a retired Chief Master Sergeant in the US Air Force, who shares insights on leadership transitions from military to civilian contexts.
After transitioning from an intense Korean assignment to leading 600 people in Germany, Joe faced unexpected challenges when reduced workload led to personnel issues. He discovered four capable but disconnected managers working inefficiently, creating an unintentionally toxic environment.
Joe's approach balanced adaptability with consistent standards through his "two-but rule" for handling disagreements and the "Protect the Family Name" campaign to unify the team. He implemented a 90-day change strategy, emphasizing making people feel "seen, heard, understood, and valued" (SHUV) while creating sustainable processes and data-driven tracking systems.
The transformation resulted in improved team engagement and more effective leadership time allocation, demonstrating that successful organizational change requires clear communication and measurable goals.
Listeners can learn more about Joe Bogdan through his podcast, Waypoint Better, or at Waypointbettter.com.
