What Military Leadership and Commercial Real Estate Have in Common

Earlier this month, our team had the opportunity to hear from Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Price, whose career has spanned military aviation, leadership as a Marine Corps commanding officer, and now commercial aviation.

At first glance, flying military aircraft and working in commercial real estate might not appear to have much in common. But as we listened to Lt. Col. Price share stories and lessons from his career, it became clear that both worlds face many of the same challenges: competing priorities, incomplete information, difficult conversations, high-pressure situations, and the constant need to work together toward a common goal.

A few insights especially resonated with our team.

You Can't Have Ten Priorities

One of the simplest, but most powerful reminders was that while there may be ten important things happening at any given moment, there can only be one true priority.

In fast-paced environments, it's easy to become overwhelmed by competing demands. But effective leaders help teams focus on what must move forward first. When everyone understands the primary objective, decision-making becomes clearer and progress accelerates.

Stay Calm When Things Get Chaotic

Every industry has its turbulence.

In commercial real estate, that might be a property emergency, a delayed transaction, an unexpected issue during due diligence, or a difficult client conversation. Whatever the challenge, people naturally look to leadership for cues on how to respond.

Remaining calm doesn't mean ignoring the problem, it means creating confidence in the path forward. A steady presence helps teams think clearly, communicate effectively, and solve problems more efficiently when pressure is at its highest.

Know Your Glass Balls and Plastic Balls

Not every responsibility carries the same consequences.

Lt. Col. Price shared the concept of distinguishing between "glass balls" and "plastic balls." Some things can be dropped and recovered. Others cannot.

In our business, glass balls often include client trust, safety concerns, transaction deadlines, owner commitments, and legal or reputational matters. These require heightened attention and care. Understanding the difference allows teams to prioritize effectively and avoid treating every task as equally urgent.

Clarity Is Kind

Many of us have experienced situations where issues became more complicated because communication was delayed or unclear.

One of the strongest leadership principles discussed was that difficult conversations should be direct, honest, and constructive. People deserve to understand what happened, why it matters, what needs to happen next, and how similar issues will be prevented in the future.

Clear communication builds trust, even when the message itself is challenging.

Leadership Is About Steadiness

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the session was that leadership isn't about having every answer.

It's about remaining steady when circumstances become uncertain. It's about identifying the true priority, communicating clearly, following through on commitments, and genuinely caring about the people around you.

Whether we're managing a property issue, negotiating a deal, advising an owner, supporting a tenant, or helping a teammate navigate a difficult situation, these principles remain relevant.

The settings may be different, but effective leadership looks remarkably similar across industries. And sometimes the lessons learned in a cockpit provide exactly the perspective we need on the ground.

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