"Communication and Leadership: Insights from a Navy Veteran" My Conversation with Jim Little

In this episode of the Learning to Lead Show, host Mark Cundiff sits down with Jim Little, a Navy veteran and senior reliability engineer with PIP company.

Jim shares invaluable leadership insights drawn from his extensive career across various roles in maintenance, reliability, and safety management in industrial manufacturing.

From his early days in the Navy to leading teams and driving change in resistant environments, Jim emphasizes the importance of communication, leading by example, and building trust.

He discusses transitioning from military to civilian roles, the challenges of driving change in the current work climate, and provides practical advice for aspiring leaders, stressing the significance of listening, patience, and making work enjoyable.

Listeners are encouraged to download the LeaderNotes for a summary of key takeaways and to subscribe to more episodes.

00:00 Introduction and Employee Feedback

00:28 Welcome to the Learning to Lead Show

00:40 Meet Jim Little: Navy Veteran and Leadership Expert

02:33 Jim's Leadership Journey from Navy to Industry

03:38 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Maintenance Role

07:26 Leadership Lessons from the Paper Mill Turnaround

10:26 Challenges and Strategies in Leadership

14:56 Building Trust and Effective Communication

16:50 Driving Change in Industrial Manufacturing

18:39 Key Traits of a Great Leader

20:07 Leading Up and Managing Peers

25:43 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges

31:29 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

34:06 Conclusion and Call to Action

Free Learning To Lead Resources

• Free Book: The Trust Gap
• The Learning To Lead Newsletter
• LeaderNotes

🔎 About LeaderNotes

LeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go.

It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.

Download This Episode's Leadernotes Here: LeaderNotes

Contact Mark at: mark@markjcundiff.com