Part 2: The Strength of Shared Leadership – Building Trust That Wins

Shared leadership demands a deeper kind of courage—not to command, but to let go. To trust others with the mission. To listen without armor. To allow space for perspectives that challenge your own.

This is the foundation of elite performance: mutual trust, respect, and total ownership by everyone on the team. When each teammate is seen, heard, and valued, their buy-in is real. And that creates unbreakable cohesion—the kind that carries teams through chaos, fatigue, and adversity.

When you introduce this new-wave of leadership things will move slower at first. There will be friction. But in the long run, this model builds resilience, engagement, and innovation. It creates teams that adapt fast and endure long.

In our VUCA world, command-and-control breaks under pressure. But shared leadership? It flexes. It evolves. It leads with clarity and heart.
So lean in. Lead side by side. Because the strongest teams aren’t built on one leader—they’re built on many.

The Mark Divine Show

Vulnerability & Bravery

Episode #533

Nick O’Kelly spent over two decades in the U.S. Army, serving a total of 13 years, with nine of those years in Special Operations. He’s one of the rare few to have worn both the Green Beret and the flight suit of an MH-60M Black Hawk pilot with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Over the course of seven deployments—including combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines—Nick supported Tier 1 Special Mission Units in some of the most dangerous places on earth.

Today, he’s turned his focus to a different kind of mission. As the author of Stigma, he’s opening up conversations about the quiet battles many service members face long after the fighting ends. His work challenges the idea that struggle is weakness, and instead shows how courage and vulnerability can coexist—even in the most high-performing communities.

Podcast Highlights:

In this episode, I sit down with Nick O’Kelly—a former Green Beret and 160th SOAR Black Hawk pilot—who opens up about the hidden battles he faced long after the combat missions ended. What struck me most was Nick’s honesty about managing depression, anxiety, and family life while performing at the highest levels. His journey, and his book Stigma, shine a light on the silent struggles many high performers face. This conversation reminded me of the power of vulnerability, the importance of community, and how critical it is to talk about mental health without shame. If you think strength means silence, this episode will challenge that belief—in the best possible way.

--> Listen to episode #533 with Nick O'Kelly

If you want to heal, you need to talk about it, be open about it, and make it something you’re not ashamed of. Learn from it and be able to help others through it.  - Nick O’Kelly

Practice of  Wu Wei: Wu Wei (pronounced “woo-way”) is an ancient Taoist concept often translated as “effortless action” or “non-doing.” It doesn’t mean being passive or lazy—it’s about aligning with the natural flow of life rather than forcing outcomes.

This week, try pausing before reacting. Let situations unfold a little before jumping in. Ask yourself: Is effort needed here—or ease? Whether in a conversation, at work, or during a workout, choose presence over push. You may find that things fall into place with less resistance. Give Wu Wei a week—and watch how life begins to meet you halfway.

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