Summary

Gary Banford, a former British Royal Marine and Sergeant Major of the SBS unit, shares his experience in the special forces and the selection process. He discusses the discreet nature of the SBS and the challenges they face. He also talks about the importance of mindset and determination in completing the selection process. Gary reflects on his deployments and the relentless cycle of operations after 9/11. Garry Banford discusses the challenges of military life and the transition to civilian entrepreneurship. He highlights the relentless cycle of operations and deployments in the military, as well as the burden placed on special operations forces. Garry also shares his decision to leave the military and start a coaching and mentoring business, focusing on mindset and resilience. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and sharing experiences in both the military and business world. Garry also discusses the struggle of self-promotion as an entrepreneur and the value of having a business partner with complementary skills. In this conversation, Garry Banford discusses the importance of self-awareness and effective communication in leadership. He emphasizes the need for leaders to recognize their weaknesses and seek help when necessary. Garry also highlights the value of creating psychological safety within teams and the benefits of debriefing and after-action reviews. He shares his experiences working with senior leaders and the importance of building a community where leaders can learn from and support each other. Garry's goal for the next five years is to maintain a balance between his work and family life while continuing to make a positive impact through coaching and community building.

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Garry's Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-banford-640286111/

https://www.duratusuk.com/

https://www.duratusuk.com/coach-profile/garry-banford

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gary Banford and the SBS

03:02 Joining the Military and Special Forces

11:24 The Foundation of Basic Skills and Determination

25:43 Intense and Relentless Deployments in Special Forces

31:11 The Challenges of Military Life and Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

36:37 The Decision to Leave the Military and Start a Coaching Business

52:26 Overcoming the Struggle of Self-Promotion

57:50 The Power of Storytelling and Sharing Experiences

01:03:25 The Value of a Complementary Business Partner

01:05:55 Self-Awareness and Effective Communication in Leadership

01:10:33 Creating Psychological Safety within Teams

01:13:47 The Value of Debriefing and After-Action Reviews

01:19:17 Building a Community of Leaders

01:28:20 Finding Balance: Work and Family Life

01:33:19 Making a Positive Impact through Coaching and Community Building

Sound Bites

"The British special forces, including the SBS, have a reputation for being discreet and humble."

"Joining the military and special forces often stems from a desire for adventure and personal challenge."

"The Marines and Royal Marines provide a foundation of basic skills and a mindset of determination."

"It was a big family decision to leave the military, specifically to see my children more."

"If there's one skill you could cultivate, it would be self-awareness."