Episode 18 Seven (7) Ways Leaders Lose At Situational Leadership with Joshua K. McMillion
7 Ways Leaders Lose at Situational Leadership
Tales of Leadership | Episode 18 | Joshua McMillion
In this episode, Joshua McMillion breaks down the second phase of leadership: situational leadership. This phase begins the moment someone places you into a position of authority and believes you have what it takes to lead. That belief is important, but Joshua makes it clear that authority alone is a trap. Rank, title, and position may give a leader authority, but they do not create trust, inspire action, or build respect. Situational leadership is the shortest phase for a reason. It is the phase a leader must move through quickly by getting away from authority and moving toward authentic relationships.
The first major warning Joshua gives is complacency. Leaders lose at situational leadership when they assume the organization is functioning well simply because nothing appears broken on the surface. He explains that when stepping into a new role, leaders must look for smoke. If there is smoke, there is likely fire coming. Complacency lowers a leader’s guard, and that is often when problems erupt. Drawing from his deployment to Afghanistan, Joshua explains that some of the most dangerous periods are the beginning and ending of transitions, because those are the moments when people relax and the enemy looks for weakness. The moment a leader assumes everything is fine is often the moment the real problems begin.
Another way leaders lose in this phase is by mishandling information. Joshua explains that some leaders hoard information because they believe it gives them power, while others dump too much information on their team and create confusion and fatigue. Both approaches are harmful. Strong leaders do not use information to control people. They process it, understand it, and then share it with the right people at the right time. This supports mission command, pushes authority to the lowest level, and allows the team to function with clarity and purpose instead of chaos.
Joshua also emphasizes the danger of failing to live your core values. He argues that leadership cannot be built on words alone. If a leader says one thing but consistently does another, the team will see through it. Situational leadership is one of the earliest tests of integrity because the team is watching closely. They are not just listening to what the leader says. They are observing what the leader tolerates, what the leader prioritizes, and how the leader behaves when no one is watching. When a leader’s deeds do not match their words, trust erodes before relationships ever have a chance to form.
False confidence is another trap Joshua calls out. Leaders who step into a new role acting like the expert often damage morale before they ever earn influence. He warns against coming into an organization like a hurricane and immediately trying to change everything. Instead, leaders should lead with humility, ask questions, and identify the people who already hold influence within the team. Situational leadership is not the time to prove how much you know. It is the time to understand the team, the culture, and the areas that actually need improvement.
The episode also draws a sharp distinction between transitional and transformational leadership. Joshua warns that leaders lose when they form transitional habits and begin treating people like objects rather than assets. Transitional leaders use their role to advance themselves, protect privilege, and leverage authority for personal benefit. Transformational leaders, on the other hand, add value to others, serve the team first, and understand that leadership is about responsibility, not entitlement. His example of choosing to eat last as a platoon leader and company commander reinforces that leadership is not about taking from the team. It is about serving the team.
Joshua then addresses agendas and politics. Leaders lose at situational leadership when they operate with hidden motives, compete for control, or hoard resources out of fear. He explains that scarcity thinking creates division and sparks internal competition that ultimately hurts the organization. Purposeful accountable leaders do not lead from secrecy or self-protection. They lead with transparency. They recognize that if the team wins, the organization wins, and if the organization wins, everyone benefits. Politics may preserve power in the short term, but they destroy trust in the long term.
The final warning in the episode is letting the position define you. Joshua reminds listeners that leadership is a journey, not a destination. If a leader begins to believe the title is who they are, they will become isolated, prideful, and disconnected from the people they were called to lead. Situational leadership must never become a permanent residence. It is only the entry point. Leaders must remain committed, coachable, and curious enough to continue growing. If a leader allows the position to define them, they will eventually lose the people they were meant to inspire.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a direct challenge to any leader stepping into a new role. Situational leadership can be deceptive because it gives a person authority before they have earned trust. That makes it one of the most dangerous phases in the leadership journey. Joshua makes it clear that leaders who stay in this phase too long will become positional, political, and disconnected. The goal is not to get comfortable with authority. The goal is to move beyond it.
What makes this episode powerful is that it does not just call out toxic leadership. It exposes the subtle ways leaders drift into it. Complacency, pride, false confidence, control, and hidden agendas rarely begin as dramatic failures. They begin as small habits that slowly shape the culture of an organization. That is why self-leadership still matters in every phase. Leaders must continue to lead themselves well if they want to show up for others with clarity and integrity. Authority may open the door, but only humility, service, and consistency will allow a leader to truly move people forward.
After Action Review
Where in your leadership are you relying too heavily on authority instead of building trust?
Are your daily actions reinforcing your core values, or are your words and deeds out of alignment?
What can you do right now to move away from positional leadership and toward authentic relationships?
Tales of Leadership Mission: To develop Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PAL)
by arming you with the tools required to lead with purpose, integrity, and accountability.
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