While few of us will ever know what it means to make life and death decisions for our team there are lessons we can glean from being decisive in the midst of a crisis. Retired Colonel Thomas Matthews discusses what it means to lead in the midst of a crisis through his experience in Mogadishu, Somalia.

‘The essential framework is known as “Be, Know, Do.” Leading hinges on the DO part, Matthews said. “In order to be a leader, you’ve got to do; you must act.” Words such as “loyalty” do matter. “We have a motto: NSDQ. It means, Night Stalkers Don’t Quit. That matters in time of crisis and [when] you’re under a lot of stress: Don’t quit. Persevere. Have the will to push through the problem.”‘

“Blackhawk Down”: Leading in Crisis