This past week’s headlines were full of controversy. Many want to frame them as political. They’re not. They’re about something far more fundamental: leadership standards.
The hard truth? People don’t like hearing it, but basic standards are non-negotiable for success. And no one—Generals, Admirals, or FBI Special Agents—is above them.
A Sales Team Lesson on Standards
Years ago, I was promoted to sales manager in New York City. I inherited a team with triple my experience—but half the performance.
The problem wasn’t skill. It was culture. The team lacked basic behavioral standards that allowed them to execute.
I implemented four simple rules:
- Be on time
- Pay attention
- Don’t gossip
- Work hard
The reaction? Outrage. These seasoned professionals bristled at being reminded of what sounded like “childish rules.”
The result? Within months, the team went from hitting 50% of plan to 150%. That’s the power of standards. They don’t have to be complicated. But they do have to be clear.
Secretary Hegseth’s Standards for the Military
This week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reminded America’s most senior military leaders of a truth many found uncomfortable: standards matter.
His message:
- We are not a social experiment—we are warfighters.
- Grooming standards apply to everyone equally.
- Fitness is not optional. It’s the foundation of combat readiness.
Agree or disagree, his expectations were clear. Leaders and service members can now decide: do these standards align with the warrior culture you signed up for? That’s how accountability works.
The FBI Kneeling Incident
Which brings me to the FBI Special Agents who knelt during the 2020 protests. From a personal standpoint, I was embarrassed. Agents charged with crowd control and enforcement do not kneel to crowds. That is not apolitical law enforcement—it’s taking sides.
I was angry. But I don’t ultimately blame those agents. Why? Because they were operating in a culture that made kneeling permissible. A culture I saw forming long before 2016, and one of the reasons I left the FBI.
Perhaps if clear standards had been enforced—like those Hegseth articulated for the military—this embarrassment to what was once the world’s premier law enforcement agency would not have happened.
The Ice Cold Truth
Leaders don’t need perfect standards. They need clear standards. People don’t have to agree with them, but they must understand them. And if they disagree, they have a choice: leave the culture that doesn’t fit.
Current FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary Hegseth are imperfect leaders. But both are doing something rare: setting standards and enforcing them.
Like it or not, success always follows culture grounded in clarity and accountability.
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Errol Doebler is a former Navy SEAL platoon commander, FBI terrorism investigator, and founder of his leadership consulting company, Ice Cold Leader. He can be contacted at Hello@Icecoldleader.com.
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