Commander's Intent

Derek Oaks
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Commander's Intent with Derek Oaks When the pressure’s on, can you make the call? Commander's Intent helps leaders at every level make confident, timely decisions that drive real results. Hosted by Colonel (Ret.) Derek Oaks, former Air Force fighter pilot and leadership mentor, this podcast blends stories from combat and business to teach you how to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. Learn to define your mission, empower your team, and execute with confidence. 

  1. 6 UUR GELEDEN

    What’s the Point of a Plan? Why Planning Still Wins When Everything Falls Apart

    In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks breaks down a hard leadership truth: plans rarely survive first contact—but planning is still essential. Drawing from real combat missions and life-or-death decisions, Derek explains why mental rehearsal, preparation, and clarity of intent matter more than a perfect plan. From military operations to business, relationships, and everyday leadership, this episode shows how planning builds alignment, reduces risk, and sharpens decision-making when chaos hits. If you’ve ever wondered whether planning is worth the effort when life never goes as expected, this episode answers that question—clearly and decisively.

    8 min

  2. 29 JAN

    Facing Risk with Clarity, Not Fear

    In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks and co-host Rob Powell break down how leaders should think about risk—and why fear-based decision-making quietly destroys momentum, trust, and mission success. Drawing from military aviation, combat operations, business leadership, and everyday life, they explain why risk can never be reduced to zero, why safety alone cannot be the goal, and how great leaders learn to balance likelihood, impact, and purpose when making critical decisions. From flying low-level combat missions to business delays that push risk onto customers and teams, this conversation challenges the idea that avoiding risk makes leaders safer. This episode is about clarity over caution, mission over comfort, and learning how to mitigate risk without freezing, deferring, or shifting responsibility onto others. If you lead people, make decisions under pressure, or feel stuck between fear and action—this episode is for you.

    37 min

  3. 22 JAN

    Is Hesitancy Costing You Results?

    Hesitation isn’t harmless—it’s expensive. In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks breaks down how decision hesitancy is quietly killing momentum, confidence, and results in today’s organizations. Backed by real-world data and battlefield-tested leadership lessons, Derek explains why leaders freeze, how micromanagement and information overload fuel indecision, and why waiting often causes more damage than a wrong call. He shares practical strategies to overcome analysis paralysis, empower teams, set decision deadlines, and build confidence through action. The key takeaway: leadership isn’t about perfect decisions—it’s about timely ones that move you forward.

    14 min

  4. 15 JAN

    A Daily Roadmap to Triple Your Productivity and Success

    In this episode of Commander’s Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and fighter pilot Derek Oaks challenges a question many people secretly ask: Why even bother setting goals when most people quit anyway? Derek and co-host Rob break down why goals fail, why vision matters more than resolutions, and how leaders use goals as stepping stones, not finish lines. Through real-world leadership lessons, personal stories, and military insight, this episode reframes goal-setting as a tool for growth, clarity, and disciplined action even when you don’t hit every target.

    23 min

  5. 8 JAN

    How Chaos Destroys Teams and How to Get Them Together Into the Jet Stream of Success

    In this episode of Commander's Intent, retired Air Force Colonel and leadership mentor Derek Oaks breaks down one of the most overlooked but critical leadership skills: creating a shared vision with your team. Drawing from his experience as a fighter squadron commander, Derek explains how understanding individual goals, motivations, and personal aspirations allows leaders to align people with the organization’s mission in a meaningful way. This episode explores how leaders can move teams beyond “just showing up for a paycheck” to true commitment, ownership, and pride in the mission. If you want higher performance, stronger engagement, less turnover, and a team that genuinely cares about the outcome, this conversation shows how shared vision is where leadership magic really happens.

    11 min

  6. 1 JAN

    Why With Bombs, Bullets, and a Raging War Was Rescuing One Person So Important

    In this powerful episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and his guests unpack the true significance behind the rescue of Private Jessica Lynch—and why it was never just about military tactics. This wasn’t a mission driven by efficiency, profit, or ROI. It was a statement of values.  Through firsthand accounts from those involved in the planning and execution, this conversation reveals what happens when an organization is willing to pause everything, redirect massive resources, and act decisively to protect one person. The episode explores leadership under pressure, trust, preparation, and the cultural message sent when leaders prove—without hesitation—that their people matter.  More than a war story, this episode delivers a timeless leadership lesson: when people know they won’t be abandoned, they’ll give everything in return.

    37 min

  7. 26-12-2025

    What Being Deployed for Christmas Taught Me That Will Last a Lifetime

    In this heartfelt episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and Rob reflect on choosing gratitude even during holiday separation—whether caused by military service, demanding careers, leadership responsibilities, or life circumstances beyond your control. Drawing from years of deployments, missed Christmases, and time spent far from family, they share powerful stories about perspective, service, and finding meaning when you’re missing the people who matter most.

    24 min

  8. 18-12-2025

    Why Making a High Stakes Decision is the Difference Between Success and Disaster

    In this episode of Commander’s Intent, Derek Oaks and former senior diplomat Bart Marcois break down how high-stakes leaders make decisions knowing they’ll be second-guessed. Using the 2003 Iraq invasion as a case study, they explore confirmation bias, imperfect intelligence, and the reality that leaders rarely get “good” options—only necessary ones. This conversation challenges listeners to rethink decision-making under pressure and focus on intent, clarity, and accountability when the cost of hesitation is even higher than the risk of action.

    42 min
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Info

Commander's Intent with Derek Oaks When the pressure’s on, can you make the call? Commander's Intent helps leaders at every level make confident, timely decisions that drive real results. Hosted by Colonel (Ret.) Derek Oaks, former Air Force fighter pilot and leadership mentor, this podcast blends stories from combat and business to teach you how to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. Learn to define your mission, empower your team, and execute with confidence. 

Informatie

  • Maker
    Derek Oaks
  • Jaren actief
    2025 - 2026
  • Afleveringen
    17
  • Beoordeling
    Veilig
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Commander's Intent
  • Website van aflevering
    Commander's Intent
  • Provider