Episode 32 - Lt Gen Roly Walker DSO - Turning Good Leaders Into Great Leaders

The Centre for Army Leadership Podcast

In this week's episode, we speak to Lieutenant General Roly Walker DSO, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military, Strategy and Operations). General Walker gives an honest insight into his leadership philosophy. He unpacks three factors that he believes turns 'good leaders' into 'great leaders.' Firstly, he highlights the importance of trust and how it underpins 'Mission Command,' the British Army's command philosophy. He goes on to emphasise that a leader's role is to build trust within their teams, which, in turn, brings all elements of the team together. Second, he warns of the dangers of leaders working in isolation and how the best leaders harness their team's collective power by including them in the decision-making process. Finally, he speaks with real passion about the importance for leaders to know their people and the organisation they are working within, highlighting that getting into the DNA of an organisation allows the leaders to make informed decisions that are nested within the team's culture.

THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED PRIOR TO RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE