The Captain of Make It Happen

The Captain of Make It Happen

The phone woke me up from the sleep and cushy routine I had laid out for the summer before my junior year at college. It was Eric, who wanted me to join some other friends from CU for a summer in Southern California. After laying out a vision of the adventure and growth he foresaw, he asked, “So Bert, are you coming?”  “I guess so,” I said sleepily. “No guessing game- I need a commitment, are you in or out?” I paused and said “I’m in.” And like that I was launched into a life-changing summer and a lifetime friendship with Eric, who is a classic example of Force of Nature leadership.

The Force of Nature is one of the most intense and potent CoreDrill types. Leaders of this type combine Mobilize, Energize and Reflect quadrants—pairing their internal insights with external momentum. These driven individuals can be strategic and relentless, capable of quickly diagnosing a situation and not often waiting for permission to get moving to influence outcomes.

Though not always warm or collaborative by default, their clarity of purpose can galvanize teams and cut through bureaucratic stagnation. Their presence in a group is usually felt strongly— through powerful communication, quick decision-making, or emotional intensity.

The Great Wake of Force of Nature Leaders

1. Decisive Influence: They can quickly assess situations, make tough calls, and bring clarity to ambiguous or high-stakes scenarios, eliminating confusion and rallying teams to a shared objective.

2. Catalytic Drive: They energize stagnant teams or projects by infusing a sense of urgency and forward momentum. Their capacity to “make things happen” even in complex or ambiguous environments positions them as natural change agents.

1. Fearless Leadership: They thrive under pressure and are not easily intimidated by obstacles, making them particularly effective in crisis situations or high-growth contexts, often pushing through barriers that stall others.
2. Personal Ownership: They take responsibility for results and are often self-accountable, setting the tone for excellence and high standards within the team.
3. Strategic Influence: Their Reflect talents help them read patterns, anticipate risks, and build a compelling vision that can lead others to raise their own performance and align minds with the bigger picture.

The Potential Rough Wake:

1. Overdominance: Their strong voice and presence can unintentionally silence other voices, especially more reserved team members, reducing psychological safety and team creativity.
2. Pacing Misalignment: Their fast pace may be misaligned with others’ capacities, leading to burnout or disengagement in teams that require more process or deliberation.
3. Dismissive of Emotions: In their drive for results, their intensity and lack of Connect talents (Clueless Blueless) may neglect emotional cues or interpersonal needs, potentially damaging trust or morale over time.
4. Control Bias: Force of Nature leaders may struggle to delegate or collaborate when outcomes seem at risk, inadvertently disempowering others.
5. Blind to Resistance: Their commitment to vision can cause them to overlook early signs of resistance or feedback, reducing adaptability.

On teams, Force of Nature leaders perform best when they learn to balance their intensity with empathy and create space for collaboration. Their effectiveness is magnified when paired with partners who help regulate pace, promote inclusion, and offer perspective. Adding emotional intelligence coaching and collaboration skills to their natural talents can raise them among the most transformative leaders in any organization.