[March 16, 2017] I remember it like it occurred yesterday. My maternal grandmother was a kind yet tough individualist who spoke her mind plainly and often. One day after I was baptized as a young boy in church she said, “Douglas, you’re a good kid, thank you.” It should be no surprise that the best leaders are those… Read More »
[March 15, 2017] Tenacity is an essential characteristic of successful leaders and cannot be underestimated for its veracity in making it so. That is why so many folks that do well have learned to roll with the punches that life dishes out. Those who feel the ups and downs know that it depends on how you take it;… Read More »
[March 14, 2017] For junior leaders the answer to the question, “What is more important: people or mission?” is often a struggle. This question, often asked, is not unlike the proverbial inquiry about what came first, the chicken or the egg. Senior leaders will tell you that the question itself is nonsense because it creates a false choice… Read More »
[March 12, 2017] The remains of a massive statue, believed to be of Pharaoh Ramses II, was recently discovered in a slum in Cairo, Egypt.1 The 26-foot statue made of quartzite is believed to be nearly 3,000 years old. Symbolism2, like the Egyptian statue, is a powerful tool for leaders fulfilling many functions; of the most significance is… Read More »
[February 26, 2017] It was mid-August in 1983 when my Infantry training class was on maneuvers at Fort Benning, Georgia. The heat was oppressive and the humidity seemed like we were swimming through the air. That was when we were told to dig-in and “defend” a hill from the OPFOR1. The first task assigned to me was to… Read More »
[February 25, 2017] Someone once said that a smile is the language of kindness and that is certainly true. Leaders of all stripes, to be successful, smile in order to be both approachable and motivational. This is achieved easily for those willing to take the simple step of smiling. Recent interpretations of ancient writings tell us that a… Read More »
[February 24, 2017] … but you’re not can be a strangely motivating event. I’m reminded of the Allstate Insurance’s commercials involving the Mayhem Guy who plays out scenarios involving accidents.1 An underlying theme in those commercials is that since we’re humans, we’re often the object of our own failures. Overconfident: foolishly adventurous, reckless, foolhardy are just a few… Read More »
[February 23, 2017] I own a dog. In the United States, more than a third of all families own at least one dog; the most common household pet.1 Whether you’ve ever had one or not, it’s unsurprising that anyone can learn good things from them. For example, leaders can also learn from a dog (see my earlier post on… Read More »
[February 20, 2017] One of the best things about the U.S. military is the enormous amount of resources used to produce the best leaders possible. I was fortunate to participate in a number of programs designed to improve the leadership capacities and skills of their senior officers. What I took away from it was that leadership really is… Read More »
[February 19, 2017] … and that will always be the case so leaders need to stop using it as an excuse. I often speak with young adults who’ve simply given up trying to be the best they can be because there are so many people better – much better – than them. My son was on a baseball… Read More »