Leading with CARE with Navy Chief Candy

Oct 02, 2024

In this episode of the "Leading with Heart Podcast," I dive deep into the remarkable journey of Navy Chief Petty Officer Candy Franklin. Her leadership style, personal struggles, and stories of resilience provide insightful lessons for us all. Here, we'll expand on the themes discussed in the episode, sharing Franklin’s wisdom on leadership, work-life balance, and preparing for life beyond the military.

Leading with CARE

Candy’s leadership philosophy encapsulated in the acronym CARE—Communication, Accountability, Respect, Empathy—highlights core principles vital for effective leadership.

Communication: The Pillar of Effective Leadership

Candy emphasizes that assuming everyone has the same level of understanding is a pitfall for leaders. Effective communication requires understanding each team member’s context and adapting messages accordingly. She stresses that the responsibility for clear communication rests with the senior personnel.

Accountability: Extreme Ownership

Incorporating the concept of “extreme ownership,” Candy believes leaders must take responsibility for their team's actions. When the team fails, it reflects on the leader’s shortcomings in guidance or training. This sense of accountability fosters trust and perseverance within the team.

Respect: Beyond Surface Level

Respect extends beyond cordiality, entailing a deep understanding of what respect means for each individual. Whether it’s avoidance of profanity in certain contexts or simply acknowledging someone’s humanity regardless of their flaws, respect forms the bedrock of Franklin’s leadership.

Empathy: The Struggle and Growth

Empathy, particularly towards peers and seniors, was a challenging area for Franklin. Initially struggling to understand why colleagues might not meet her standards, she learned the importance of recognizing everyone's unique challenges and contributions. This shift fostered a more cohesive and respectful working environment.

Work-Life Balance: Navigating Boundaries

Candy’s biggest out-of-uniform struggle was setting personal boundaries. Raised in a culture where saying "no" was unacceptable, she often prioritized work over personal life, contributing to her mental health challenges. Therapy played a significant role in helping her establish healthier boundaries, thereby achieving better work-life harmony.

Embracing Failure and Honesty

Franklin criticizes the “do more with less” mentality prevalent in many organizations, emphasizing that it often leads to burnout and inefficiency. She advocates for honest reporting and transparency, encouraging leaders to own up to challenges and setbacks to foster a culture of continuous improvement and safety.

The Importance of Mentors

Mentorship proved invaluable for Candy, guiding her through numerous personal and professional hurdles. She stresses that mentors should challenge you and offer new perspectives, not just echo what you want to hear. This mirrors the therapeutic value of mentorship in fostering personal growth.

Preparing for Life Beyond the Military

As Candy nears retirement, she’s mindful of the need to establish her identity beyond the military. She plans to reconnect with friends and family, particularly those she hasn’t seen in years, and she’s even excited about the unconventional adventure of living out of a van for a while.

Despite the convenience of social media, Candy values face-to-face interactions more. Her post-retirement adventures are also about rediscovering and reconnecting with people who have made lasting impacts on her life.

Wisdom for Future Leaders

Candy Franklin’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of empathy, and the impact of honest leadership. As she prepares for her next chapter, her story serves as an inspiration for leaders striving to balance professional responsibilities with personal growth.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue this conversation with you, over on Instagram, or in my Facebook community!

RESOURCES:

Connect with Candy:

Facebook: Candy Franklin (https://www.facebook.com/candy.franklin.7/)

Instagram: @candys_side_quests (https://www.instagram.com/candys_side_quests/)

Books:

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - Stephen R. Covey

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Dare to Lead - Brene Brown

Atomic Habits - James Clear

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson

Join the Strong and Resilient Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/336774597179247