When Jason Redman, a decorated jason redman navy seal, faced an ambush in Iraq in 2007 that left him critically wounded, his story could have ended there. Instead, it became the beginning of a new mission. Redman’s journey from the battlefield to becoming an author, speaker, and leadership coach is filled with lessons that apply far beyond military service. For remote team leaders, project managers, HR professionals, and startup founders, his approach to resilience, leadership, and culture offers practical guidance for navigating challenges in business and life.

The Power of the Ambush Mindset

In combat, an ambush is sudden, overwhelming, and designed to disorient. Redman reframes this idea for everyday life: setbacks, failures, or unexpected challenges are personal ambushes. The lesson isn’t to avoid them—because you can’t—but to learn how to respond with clarity and purpose. For leaders managing distributed teams, this translates into creating systems where adversity doesn’t paralyze progress. Teams that anticipate challenges and build habits of resilience are better equipped to adapt, recover, and keep moving forward.

Leading with Transparency and Accountability

After his recovery, Jason Redman famously posted a sign on his hospital room door. It rejected pity and focused attention on solutions, strength, and gratitude. That message—known as the "sign on the door"—is now one of his core leadership lessons. Leaders who bring this level of transparency into their teams create trust. Remote teams, where isolation and miscommunication are risks, benefit from leaders who set a clear tone: challenges will happen, but how we respond matters more. Accountability becomes a cultural anchor, not a punishment.

Building Teams that Thrive Under Pressure

One of the hardest parts of remote leadership is keeping people aligned when they are not physically together. Jason Redman emphasizes the importance of preparation and trust—two qualities ingrained in SEAL teams. Preparation means training for scenarios before they happen. In business, this might look like crisis planning, clear communication structures, and consistent check-ins. Trust grows from leaders showing consistency and authenticity. When teams trust one another, they perform better under stress and maintain momentum when things go wrong.

Shifting from Surviving to Thriving

It’s easy for companies, especially startups, to operate in survival mode. Jason Redman argues that true leadership is about moving beyond just getting through challenges and instead using them as leverage for growth. For project managers and HR professionals, this means shifting conversations from short-term fixes to long-term opportunities. What did the challenge teach us? How can we improve our processes or strengthen our culture because of it? This mindset transforms setbacks into catalysts for innovation.

Practical Applications for Remote Leaders

Redman’s lessons aren’t abstract—they translate directly into strategies that improve team performance:

• Clear Communication: Just as in combat, clarity saves time and reduces errors. Use concise, transparent communication with your team.

• Shared Mission: Remind your team of the larger purpose behind their work, which builds alignment even across distance.

• Preparedness Drills: Run “what if” scenarios so your team knows how to handle disruptions in projects or operations.

• Celebrating Resilience: Highlight when team members adapt and overcome challenges, reinforcing a culture that values perseverance.

Jason Redman’s Continuing Mission

Today, Jason Redman leads workshops, delivers keynote speeches, and coaches leaders across industries. His work is centered on the idea that adversity is inevitable, but defeat is optional. Through his books and programs, he helps leaders and teams build the mindset and tools needed to navigate their own ambushes, whether in business or in life.

For organizations seeking to strengthen their culture, his perspective offers both inspiration and a clear roadmap. Remote leaders in particular can draw on his experiences to create environments where resilience, accountability, and trust are not just values but daily practices.