#78 Joshua McMillion - Exploring the Power of Leadership Intelligence
Leadership Intelligence: Evolving Your Influence as a Leader
Featuring Joshua McMillion | Tales of Leadership Podcast Ep. 78
Leadership is a multifaceted journey that requires a continuous evolution of skills, influence, and intelligence. In a recent episode of the Tales of Leadership podcast, Joshua McMillion, an active-duty Army officer and leadership coach, offers an in-depth analysis of the different phases of leadership development, emphasizing the importance of aligning emotional intelligence with the operational needs of an organization.
McMillion begins by introducing the concept of leadership intelligence, defining it as the blend of emotional intelligence and the organizational needs within a leader's operating environment. He suggests that as leaders progress, their role shifts from a tactical focus, where success is determined by personal efforts, to a strategic one, where success hinges on the leader's ability to invest time in others. McMillion uses a scatter plot diagram to visualize this concept, highlighting that the commitment required from leaders grows exponentially with their influence.
The conversation transitions to the indispensable role of accountability in leadership. McMillian underscores that failing to hold team members accountable can diminish standards within an organization. He introduces his Resiliency-Based Leadership Program (RBLP), which focuses on creating resilient, winning cultures through coaching and identifying the root causes of failure. He shares his personal leadership journey and the dynamic nature of leadership intelligence, comprising tactical, operational, and strategic levels.
McMillion challenges leaders to assess their daily activities and categorize them into these levels of leadership intelligence. By doing so, leaders can understand their influence and identify ways to enhance their success. He stresses the need for strategic intelligence in shaping organizations and the importance of dreaming big, fostering alignment, and inspiring others to achieve a compelling collective vision.
In the episode, McMillion also discusses resiliency-based leadership, explaining that leaders must build teams capable of overcoming adversity and adapting to change. He argues that resilient teams are not only stronger together but also essential for individual and organizational growth.
McMillion concludes the episode with an exercise for listeners, urging them to write down their weekly job activities and categorize them as tactical, operational, or strategic. This exercise helps leaders understand where they fall within the leadership spectrum, how to align their actions with their roles and responsibilities, and the needs of their team.
The podcast episode with Joshua McMillion offers valuable insights into leadership intelligence, development, and accountability. It provides listeners with practical tools and strategies for evolving as leaders, creating winning cultures, and achieving success at various levels of leadership intelligence. Whether you are a new leader or a seasoned veteran, this episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to excellence in leadership.
Final Thoughts
Leadership intelligence is the key to unlocking your full potential as a leader. As your influence grows, your focus must shift from doing the work to developing others and shaping the future of your organization. Purposeful Accountable Leaders understand that success is no longer measured by individual output but by the strength of the teams they build and the culture they create. When you align emotional intelligence with organizational needs, hold the standard through accountability, and invest your time where it matters most, you begin to operate at a level that creates lasting impact.
After Action Review (AAR)
How much of your time is spent operating at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of leadership?
Where are you failing to hold the standard, and how is that impacting your team’s performance?
What is one action you can take this week to shift your focus toward developing others and building a stronger culture?
Tales of Leadership Mission: To develop Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PAL)
by arming you with the tools required to lead with purpose, integrity, and accountability.
More Exclusive Content
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brabner’s journey from infantry combat leader to military robotics innovator shows how leadership can transform even the largest organizations. In this episode, he shares raw lessons from combat, where the absence of simple tools like soldier-borne sensors cost lives, and how those experiences fueled his drive to reshape the military’s approach to unmanned systems. Brabner reveals how visionary leadership—rooted in Boy Scout values, hardened in Ranger School, and tested in combat—has turned fragile, expensive assets into modular, mission-ready tools that give soldiers a decisive edge. His story is a powerful reminder that disruptive change requires both innovation and leaders willing to challenge the status quo.