Mission Command in Reality: Don Vandergriff on Building Thinking Leaders

Mission command isn’t a process—it’s a culture.

In this episode, Mike Jones is joined by Don Vandergriff, retired military leader and pioneer of outcomes-based learning, to explore what mission command really looks like in practice. Far from a doctrinal buzzword, it’s about building trust, empowering people, and creating space for thinking leaders.

Don draws on decades of experience to show why control, ego, and risk aversion are the enemies of adaptability—and how learning must be active, informal, and continuous. From Von Moltke to tactical decision games, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone leading in complexity.

If you want to stop managing and start developing real leadership, this one’s for you.

🔍 In this episode:

• Why mission command is about culture, not command structures
• The critical role of trust, intent, and empowerment
• How constraints and control kill initiative
• Why most After Action Reviews are broken
• Using historical insights to shape modern leadership
• How to build critical thinking and initiative with decision games

🎧 Keywords: mission command, leadership, trust, empowerment, military culture, decision-making, adaptability, learning, critical thinking, Von Moltke

📘 Learn more about Don’s work: https://donvandergriff.substack.com/

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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/