Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Dichotomy of Leadership  By  cover art

The Dichotomy of Leadership

By: Jocko Willink, Leif Babin
Narrated by: Jocko Willink, Leif Babin
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.25

Buy for $21.25

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The importance of balance as a leader by the number-one New York Times best-selling authors of Extreme Ownership.

Every leader must be ready and willing to take charge, to make hard, crucial calls for the good of the team and the mission. Something much more difficult to understand is that in order to be a good leader, one must also be a good follower. This is a dichotomy - a Dichotomy of Leadership. It is, as authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin explained in their best-selling first audiobook, Extreme Ownership, “Simple, Not Easy”.

Now, in The Dichotomy of Leadership, the authors explain the power inherent in the recognition of the fine line that leaders must walk, balancing between two seemingly opposite inclinations. It is with the knowledge and understanding of this balance that a leader can most effectively lead, accomplish the mission, and achieve the goal of every leader and every team: victory.

Using examples from the authors' combat and training experience in the SEAL Teams and then showing how each lesson applies to business and in life, Willink and Babin reveal how the use of seemingly opposite principles - leading and following, focusing and detaching, being both aggressive and prudent - require skill, awareness, understanding, and dexterity, all attributes that can be honed. These dichotomies are inherent in many of the concepts introduced in Extreme Ownership and integral to their proper implementation and effectiveness. Dichotomy is essential listening for anyone looking to lead and win.

©2018 Jocko Willink and Leif Babin (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"With so much of this audiobook illustrated by the authors' battlefield experiences, their dramatic, often combative, narration is not entirely out of place...the authors grasp the awesome responsibilities of leading, and their assertive performances convey an urgency that makes this lesson memorable." (AudioFile Magazine)

What listeners say about The Dichotomy of Leadership

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17,099
  • 4 Stars
    1,483
  • 3 Stars
    283
  • 2 Stars
    58
  • 1 Stars
    57
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15,226
  • 4 Stars
    1,116
  • 3 Stars
    230
  • 2 Stars
    54
  • 1 Stars
    41
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14,833
  • 4 Stars
    1,314
  • 3 Stars
    299
  • 2 Stars
    59
  • 1 Stars
    45

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stand By to Get Some.

After listing to this book, my motivation rose by 8000%. An Incredible followup by the 2 of the most incredible men to ever lead the Navy Seals. Dont even think about buying this book, Just do it. Your future self will thank you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring

This book was inspiring and easy to read. It is truly a master class on leadership.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a great follow-up!

our frog friends delivered a superlative follow up to their first book extreme ownership. it's great to see that even the tough guys recognize the need to find a balance between horsepower and diplomacy in building winning teams

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ying and Yang....

"As the light came to exist the darkness comprehended it not! Balance is the key to everything very very simple but not easy... tremendous book!"

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best Leadership book

The best leadership book I've ever listened to. I highly recommend this book to any leader.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

another great book from these guys

I enjoyed this book. some good lessons learned that I hope to apply in the business world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Jocko and Leif never disappoint. Everyone in management position will want to listen to this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent learnings shared in a relatable format

The narrators shared their experiences and lessons learned through many struggles in training and live combat.

the lessons transcends the battlefield and are applicable to any dealings when others are involved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

dropshiprocket.com loves this book

This book really builds on the first book and answered every question I had regarding leadership. The story telling and examples given are amazing and also entertaining enough to easily remember.

I'm using the teaching in all areas of my life especially business. This book is a must have period. I finished it and already starting to read the hard copy, I need to make these principles stick. dropshiprocket.com

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Live changing!

Absolutely excellent, highly recommend this to anyone looking to better themselves! Read Extreme ownership first, then this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!