2025: Leaders, Leading, and Leadership in Action

#LeadershipDevelopment #ActionableConnection #ConnectING #VisionFor2025

Leading into, through, and beyond 2025 demands more than just focusing on the “end states” of #connectION.

Leaders... we need to focus on #connectING as an action.

Our challenges today are more than abstract; we are clearly in a VUCA environment. The future – nay, OUR future - demands leaders and leadership actively engage with their teams, their missions, and themselves. Leaders who understand that enduring standards must anchor us, even as we adapt to meet rapidly evolving contexts.?

The stakes are higher than ever. Complexities abound—geopolitical tensions, shifting societal expectations, and the relentless pace of technological advancement.

“To lead” does not just mean I have a title or we have updated our org chart. Leading means I show up, I connect, and I take action every single day.

The Seven Connections Framework

Since 2021 I have relied (and focused my work) on the Seven Connections Framework as a guide to navigate uncertainty and complexity. These connections are not just theories—they are actionable principles that define the leaders we must be:

• Connecting to Self: Honing self-awareness and #resilience to lead authentically.
• Connecting to Mission: Aligning personal #purpose with organizational goals to drive impact.
• Connecting to One Another: Building trust-based #relationships that strengthen teams.
• Connecting to Current Context: Adapting decisively to dynamic environments.
• Connecting to Heritage: Honoring the legacies that shape our #culture, #identity and #values.
• Connecting to Stakeholders: Expanding networks and partnerships for greater #collaboration.
• Connecting to Future: Preparing for what’s next with #foresight and innovation.

Lessons from 2024: Grounded in Action

This past year challenged me AND strengthened my commitment to these connections.

• Strategic Transition: By the summer of 2024, I was “this close” to leaving civil service (IYKYK). Over 72 hours during a weekend in July, everything changed… for the better. Navigating a move to a new role wasn’t just a career shift but a declaration of my commitment to reimagine leadership development at scale.

I believe that our future depends on cultivating leaders who are prepared for complexity and inspired by purpose.

• Honoring Mentorship: When we lost CMSgt Frazier, I was reminded of the raw truth of grief in leadership. Willie’s legacy lives in the lessons he left for me (and others): the power of perseverance and the profound influence that people can have when they think – and work – at scale. On 24 Jun 2024, I put pen to paper and asked the “leader in the mirror” what he will do, the answer was clear: “Care Harder…and more.”

His memory challenges me to lead with greater vulnerability and intentionality.

• Innovation Recognition: Being recognized as a winner in the inaugural #TalentManagement: "From the Ground Up Innovation Challenge," hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Ashish Vazirani was more than a personal milestone; it was proof of the transformative potential of connecting ideas with action. It affirmed that leadership is not just something I “did” ... it is a way of being… something I “am.”

To lead means I am in the arena, creating a positive force and willing to continuously evolve.

The Hard Truth: Leading Through Complexity

On a bike ride Sunday morning the 23rd of June, 2024, I received news that forever altered my world. CMSgt Willie Frazier had died by suicide. That loss has been a constant companion—a reminder of grief’s whisper and roar. It also solidified an unshakable truth: leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, especially when it’s hard.?

Over the next four weeks, I looked in the mirror AND out the window. I let my own leadership know I was struggling (receiving little empathy and no support), and turned to my peers, mentors, colleagues, and co-workers as I navigated a world that is now different.

On my desk at home is the coin that Willie gave to me in recognition of the work I’m here on the planet to do. When I work on base at LA-AFB, I often have it with me...

This is why connectING must be active, iterative, and ongoing. It’s more than just returning to the office to work alongside other people in the same space. Now is the time to purposefully and consciously create environments where individual members, groups of leaders, and constantly evolving teams thrive despite adversity.

Leadership demands we recognize the weight of responsibility and embrace the discomfort of action. We must lead with clarity, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Vision for 2025: Leaders for Complexity

Looking ahead, 2025 will test us all. It will require leaders who are resilient, adaptable, and deeply connected to their teams, their missions, and the changing world around them. As we prepare for what lies ahead, my focus for the year is clear:

1. Strengthening Connections

Deepening ties to self, mission, and one another is the foundation of effective leadership.

• Connection to Self ensures leaders understand their own strengths and areas for growth, fostering self-awareness and authenticity.
• Connection to Mission aligns personal purpose with organizational goals, reminding us why we lead and what is at stake.
• Connection to One Another emphasizes empathy and trust, building cohesive teams capable of weathering uncertainty and thriving under pressure.

These connections are not optional; they are the pillars of readiness and resilience in an increasingly complex world.

2. Developing Resilient Leaders

Equipping teams to thrive in uncertainty while upholding our shared values is critical to mission success.

• Connection to Current Events helps leaders stay informed without becoming overwhelmed, enabling better decision-making in real time.
• Connection to Heritage honors the lessons of the past without being bound by outdated models. The experiences that shaped us should guide us, not define our limits.
• Connection to Partners underscores the importance of collaboration, recognizing that our greatest challenges require diverse perspectives and united action.

Resilient leaders are those who can balance respect for tradition with the courage to innovate, shaping teams that are prepared for the unexpected.

3. Championing Action

To lead in 2025, senior leaders must shift their mindsets and challenge old paradigms. It’s no longer enough to lead from a framework grounded in the 1980s military ethos.

• Connection to the Future demands that we embrace a forward-thinking perspective, anticipate challenges, and adapt our strategies to stay ahead.
• Leaders must foster an environment of innovation and inclusivity, recognizing that the coming generation brings fresh perspectives and capabilities essential to today’s complex missions.
• Championing action means choosing progress over nostalgia, driving decisions that prepare teams for the realities of Great Power Competition and the demands of modern readiness.

We confront this moment with clear eyes and bold resolve, stepping into the future with purpose and adaptability. We must face head-on the challenges of our time. Instead, we must embrace them as opportunities to lead with intention and transform the culture of leadership for the better.

The time to act is now.

The Leadership Imperative: ABR

My fellow leaders: the time to prepare is now.

Always Be Ready

2025 will not wait for us to be ready—it will demand readiness. The leaders who rise to the occasion will be those who choose action over comfort, standards over shortcuts, and connection over isolation.

Let’s lean into the next year with clarity, resilience, and an unrelenting commitment to building teams and cultures that thrive. The work is hard, but it is meaningful—and together, we will lead with purpose.

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