[January 30, 2018] A number of years ago I had the opportunity to witness new Army recruits training at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Drill Sergeants were yelling at the recruits for them to get into formation and it was hard not to notice the look of fear on their faces. Motivation was being provided by the U.S. Army… Read More »
[January 29, 2018] Learning how to be a better, more informed leader is often gained through the intense study of the history of significant events. In the U.S. Army, for example, junior officers study the Mỹ Lai Massacre in Vietnam as the epitome of failed military leadership and how shame was brought upon the United States because of… Read More »
[January 28, 2018] The recent news of a growing epidemic of opioid drug use in America is unsurprising as its use has now spread among the rich and famous; those with influence and power. I bring up the war on drugs because it provides us with an opportunity to look at the failure of leadership at the highest… Read More »
[January 27, 2018] It has been said that the best leaders walk a fine line between a strong belief in their own abilities and their arrogance. Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke Jr. is one of those men to be admired for his moral courage, strength of conviction, and brashness to stand up to intimidation. A few years ago,… Read More »
[January 26, 2018] There is an interesting commercial on television that is my personal favorite regarding office hours. The message it sends is that there are jobs that offer no excuses for not doing your work. A woman knocks on a door, enters, and says she needs to take a sick day. The camera then pans to a… Read More »
[January 25, 2018] Patrick Lencioni, in his groundbreaking work on leadership, has written about the dysfunction of teams. His study of leaders and their weaknesses has opened the eyes of many folks who want to know more about how leaders recognize and overcome personal weaknesses. “Whether we’re talking about leadership, teamwork, or client service, there is no more… Read More »
[January 24, 2018] Lessons on leadership can be found in the darndest places and teenagers are quick to learn them under the right circumstances. One of my many small jobs as a young boy was picking up cow manure from my neighbor’s farm and moving it to his wife’s garden. Like so many odd jobs that boys and… Read More »
[January 21, 2018] Five years ago, a junior U.S. Senator told a group of senior business and military leaders that the philosophy of American government was; If it Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It. The leaders in the room at the time, according to one of the more savvy business leaders, were shocked to hear that “Don’t Fix It”… Read More »
[January 20, 2018] My cousin was recently contacted by a dog rescue organization located in northeastern Louisiana. They wanted her to help get the word out about their adoption services for abandoned dogs. It appears that there has been an epidemic (her term) in abandoned dogs across the U.S.; somewhere around 75 to 90 million dog are abandoned… Read More »
[January 19, 2018] Last night I watched the movie Robin Hood (2010) starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. While the movie itself did not rate highly among its critics, what I liked about it was its reference to a great betrayal that occurred during 13th century England. Leadership means understanding the great accomplishments of humankind and why certain… Read More »