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The Leadership HabitThe Leadership Habit Author: Crestcom International
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Why Decisive Leadership Matters More Than Ever With John Register
Friday, 8 May, 2026
Summary: Former Paralympian and Army veteran John Register joins The Leadership Habit to discuss leadership decision-making, resilience, and overcoming adversity. After losing his leg while training for the Olympics, Register rebuilt his life and became a Paralympic silver medalist. In this episode, he shares his “Amputate to Elevate” leadership philosophy, encouraging leaders to let go of indecision, outdated thinking, and limiting beliefs in order to adapt and move forward. The conversation explores leadership under pressure, leading through uncertainty, and the critical importance of decisive leadership for organizational growth and change. Leadership today requires more than vision. It requires the courage to make difficult decisions before all the answers are available. On the latest episode of the Leadership Habit podcast, John Register joined host Jenn DeWall for a conversation about resilience, leadership decision-making, and what it truly means to move forward after adversity. John’s story is remarkable. A decorated Persian Gulf War Army veteran and elite athlete, he was training for the Olympic Games when a devastating injury changed everything. After a missed hurdle caused severe damage to his leg, he made the life-altering decision to amputate above the knee. Instead of allowing that moment to define him, he adapted, rebuilt, and eventually became a two-sport Paralympic athlete and silver medalist. But this episode is about much more than athletics. It is about leadership under pressure and the decisions leaders avoid making every day. Meet John Register, Paralympic Silver Medalist John Register is a leadership keynote speaker, strategic advisor, Army combat veteran, Paralympic silver medalist, and co-founder of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Paralympic Military Sports Program. Today, he helps organizations navigate change and uncertainty through his “Amputate to Elevate” philosophy, which focuses on removing what no longer serves you in order to move forward with clarity and purpose. Throughout the conversation, John shares lessons from military leadership, elite sports, and personal adversity that apply directly to today’s workplace challenges. The Leadership Cost of Indecision One of the biggest themes in this episode is indecision. According to John, many leaders already know what needs to change. The challenge is not awareness. The challenge is commitment. Whether it is addressing an underperforming employee, adopting new technology, changing strategy, or having a difficult conversation, leaders often stay stuck waiting for certainty that never comes. As John explains in the episode: “You know what you need to cut. You know you’ve been holding onto that thing for a very long time.” That hesitation creates organizational drag. Teams lose momentum. Problems linger. Innovation slows down. Employees lose confidence in leadership. In many organizations, the real issue is not a lack of strategy. It is a lack of decisive leadership. The “Amputate to Elevate” Leadership Philosophy John’s “Amputate to Elevate” philosophy challenges leaders to let go of what no longer supports growth. That might mean: Letting go of outdated systems Releasing limiting beliefs Moving on from ineffective processes Making difficult personnel decisions Re-evaluating priorities Accepting that old approaches may no longer work The concept is uncomfortable by design. Transformation is difficult because it requires leaders to become something different. As John explains, most people say they want transformation, but what they really want is transition. They want improvement without discomfort. Real growth rarely works that way. This is especially relevant in a business environment shaped by rapid technological change, shifting employee expectations, economic uncertainty, and AI disruption. Organizations that wait too long to adapt risk falling behind. The Resonance Model: A Framework for Leading Through Change A major portion of the episode focuses on John’s “Resonance Model,” which includes three stages leaders move through during change: Reckoning This is the stage where leaders recognize something is no longer working. However, many organizations stay stuck here because they resist acknowledging the real problem. John describes reckoning as the tension between wanting things to stay the same while simultaneously knowing change is necessary. Revision Revision is the planning and possibility stage. Leaders begin exploring options, considering new paths, and imagining different outcomes. This is where creativity and adaptability become essential leadership skills. Renewal Renewal begins when leaders commit to action. Once a decision is made, there is no returning to the previous version of reality. That commitment creates momentum, learning, and growth. John repeatedly emphasizes that nothing changes until action happens. “Nothing starts until the button is pushed.” For many leaders, this is the hardest step. Leadership Decision Making in Uncertain Times One of the strongest leadership lessons from this episode is the idea that certainty is an illusion. Leaders often delay decisions because they want more data, more confidence, or guarantees about outcomes. John references former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his “40/70 Rule.” The idea is simple: With less than 40% of the information, you likely do not know enough to decide. With more than 70%, you may already be waiting too long. At some point, leaders must act without perfect information. This mindset is critical for modern leadership development. Markets change quickly. Employee expectations evolve rapidly. Technology advances constantly. Teams need leaders who can make thoughtful decisions and move forward with confidence. Leadership Resilience Is Built Through Action Another powerful takeaway from this episode is that resilience is not passive. John did not become resilient because adversity happened to him. He became resilient because he continued moving forward after adversity. After losing his leg, he did not initially know about the Paralympic Games. He simply took the next step available to him by swimming for physical therapy. That one step eventually opened entirely new opportunities. That lesson applies directly to leadership. Leaders do not need to have every answer immediately. They need the willingness to move forward, learn, adapt, and continue making progress. Action creates clarity. Indecision creates stagnation. Why Leadership Development Matters More Than Ever This episode reinforces why leadership development cannot be treated as a one-time event. Strong leadership requires ongoing growth, adaptability, communication, and decision-making practice. Leaders need opportunities to strengthen their confidence, challenge limiting assumptions, and develop the skills necessary to lead through uncertainty. Organizations that invest in leadership development create leaders who are better equipped to: Navigate change Communicate clearly Make difficult decisions Build trust Adapt quickly Support employee engagement Create accountability Those capabilities matter now more than ever. Where to Find More From John Register Listen to the full episode Visit John Register’s website Connect with John on LinkedIn Ready to Strengthen Your Leadership Skills? Leadership growth does not happen by accident. It happens through intentional development, practice, and learning. If your organization is looking to improve communication, accountability, decision making, and leadership effectiveness, Crestcom’s complimentary Leadership Skills Workshop can help. The workshop is available virtually or in person for teams around the world. Learn more at: Crestcom Leadership Skills Workshop Source transcript: The post Why Decisive Leadership Matters More Than Ever With John Register appeared first on Crestcom International.
