In a world where high-stakes leadership decisions can echo across nations, few have walked that tightrope with more composure and clarity than Jeh Johnson. In my recent interview with my friend, the former Secretary of Homeland Security and General Counsel of the Department of Defense, we explored the essential qualities that allow leaders to thrive amidst complexity and pressure. Here are some of the most resonant insights, direct from Jeh himself, that can help any CEO or senior leader create unshakeable business endurance.

1. Be the Best Version of Yourself

Leadership isn’t about mimicry; it’s about authenticity. When President Obama tapped Secretary Johnson to lead the Department of Homeland Security, his first reaction was doubt. “Am I equipped for this job?” he asked himself. “Because lawyers… we think of ourselves as really skilled people. But leadership is not necessarily one of them.”

Rather than trying to emulate Secretary Gates or Panetta, Johnson concluded that “maybe in the words of Chris Kolenda, you just be the best version of yourself.” That decision embodies his leadership approach. Authenticity over imitation. Substance over show.

2. Make Decisions with a 360-Degree Lens

High-stakes leadership isn’t about compromise for its own sake; it’s about smart synthesis.

When making decisions on contentious issues like immigration policy, Jeh Johnson didn’t rely on echo chambers. Instead, he deliberately convened a diverse group of voices: “I had two progressives, two pro-enforcement.” He emphasized that this wasn’t about simply “splitting the difference,” but about crafting policies that “embrace the most paramount concerns and priorities” of all involved.

This approach, he noted, creates stronger policies and deeper buy-in. “If people feel like they’ve been heard,” he said, “they’re more likely to support your conclusion, even if it’s not exactly what they wanted.”

That’s decision-making as both an art and a team sport.

3. Build Trust Across Differences

Johnson knows firsthand the friction that can exist in large, diverse organizations. Whether across agencies like ICE, CBP, and FEMA, or even political divides, his mantra was simple but powerful: “Look for the best in every person you meet.”

Before diving into hard issues, he built rapport. “Where are you from? What are your hobbies?” he’d ask. “If you ask enough questions like that, you’re going to find you have something in common. And once you’ve found that, it’s less difficult to have the hard discussion.”

Trust wasn’t a box to check; it’s his foundation for progress.

4. Avoid Burnout Through Boundaries and Perspective

Leadership roles today can feel insatiable. Johnson faced this head-on.

While Secretary, he kept a countdown clock on his phone, January 20, 2017, his official last day. “It was like running a marathon… I could see the finish line. That kept me going.”

For those without a countdown, his advice is clear: structure your schedule. “The great leaders are not necessarily the ones who work 18 hours a day… Have a managed schedule with a limited number of hours, and your level of strength and energy can adjust accordingly.”

In short: pace yourself, or the pace will punish you.

5. Empower the Unsung Heroes

One of the most morale-boosting things Johnson did as Secretary was to insist that decision memos include the author’s name and phone number, no matter their rank. “Sometimes a GS-13 (mid-level civil servant)  in Texas would get a call from me,” he said. “It’s terrific for morale… that GS-13 is going to tell everybody he runs into, ‘I got a call from the Secretary.’”

It also got him better information, faster.

This lesson holds for business leaders, too: honor contributions at every level. It builds pride, loyalty, and performance.

6. Don’t Climb the Ladder, Run the Race

When I asked about advice for young leaders, Johnson cautioned against ladder-climbing for its own sake. “Do the absolute best you can in the job you occupy now,” he said. “Don’t be thinking about or dreaming about the next level up. Everyone can tell when someone’s more focused on the next rung.”

The wisdom? Play the long game. Be excellent today, and tomorrow takes care of itself.

Final Thought: There’s No One Right Way to Lead

As Johnson reflected on the contrasting styles of Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, he summed up leadership beautifully: “There’s no one right way to hit a baseball. There’s no one right way to lead.”

Whether you’re navigating a multi-agency cabinet position or a $200M manufacturing firm, the principles hold: listen deeply, lead authentically, empower diverse perspectives, and steward your energy for the long run.

That’s how you build unshakeable business endurance, from the Pentagon to the boardroom.