What it Takes to Be a Virtual Leader

Mark Divine is a former Navy SEAL and has trained thousands of aspiring Navy SEALs. He owns and runs the SEALFIT Training Center in San Diego, California where he trains thousands of professional athletes, military professionals, SWAT, First Responders, SOF candidates, and everyday people looking to build strength and character. The QDT team conducted a short interview with him about his book Staring Down the Wolf (St. Martins Press, 2020).

So much of workplace life is remote right now. What are your key tips for supervisors to help them continue to motivate and lead their team over a screen?

I have found that a key to leading a remote team effectively with online video conferencing is to lead them in certain activities that take them out of their comfort zone and lead to deep connection. This creates great engagement and personal growth from what was formerly a boring and routine digital meeting.

Examples can include the Box Breathing practice that we do with Unbeatable Mind students (which is discussed in the book) or a physical activity like 50-00 air squats done together or each teammate sharing something vulnerable such as how they are handling the stress of the shelter in place orders. These experiences are out of the normal flow of business discussions and planning, but the time spent doing them creates a much deeper connection than if the participants were actually physically in the same room and not doing them. This is how a team can grow “vertically”—developing their character, compassion, and connection—while also working on the “horizontal” skills required to competently perform their duties at the organization.

Can the principles discussed in Staring Down the Wolf (courage, trust, respect, growth, excellence, resiliency, and alignment) be applied to students and teachers who have had their education dramatically shifted? How can students prove to be leaders in a Zoom classroom and inspire their classmates and peers?

These principles are universal and applicable to all individuals and all situations, including students and teachers.

The foundation for outstanding student teams will be built upon the first three commitments of Courage, Trust, and Respect. A student can lead with courage by taking the risk to be authentic with their views, rather than hiding behind the latest social trends and memes. Also, they can demonstrate that they stand for something more than their own egoic needs, such as the well-being of the other students. This courageous behavior creates the conditions for trust, which is further strengthened through...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips