[January 4, 2016] Yesterday my wife asked me why I’d not made any New Year’s resolutions like I always do. Note that she usually gets a good laugh out of some of them like the year I resolved to spend less than $1,000 on Starbucks coffee. This year I’ll be a little different and offer a list of… Read More »
[January 3, 2016] As luck would have it, I was reviewing some reading material and notes taken from my Infantry Officer Basic Course the other evening. In it I stumbled upon my study of the Mi Lai Massacre in Vietnam. I remember clearly how the course instructor had told us the shame it had brought upon the U.S.… Read More »
[January 2, 2016] Now is the time of year for new resolutions that we create to hopefully make us better as a person and as a leader … but more on those resolutions later. Today, I’d like to add that to be a leader means doing the job, not just observing leadership. While we can learn from observing… Read More »
[January 1, 2016] Happy New Year 2016. Thank you for reading my leadership blog this past year and for making it one of the more popular blogs on the topic of senior leadership. I will be making a number of changes based on input from readers like you. Here are some of the things that I’m working on… Read More »
[December 28, 2015] The ability to absorb lessons on leadership begins at an early age. Most people start to discover solid leadership ideas as early teenagers and the best of them never lose that learning appetite. As a sophomore in high school I got a job pumping gas at a gasoline station in central Texas. I’ve never forgotten… Read More »
[December 27, 2015] The habit of treating all people like you would like to be treated is an adage that goes back before recorded history. It is the basis for all religions and for successful customer service in any business enterprise. Good habits for leaders also means taking the Golden Rule further and treating people like they would… Read More »
[December 24, 2015] Today is Christmas Eve and a very special time for Christians around the world as one of the most significant cultural celebrations in Christendom. My wife has made sure that we are fully prepared by starting her baking days beforehand. Like her, leaders are prepared. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” –… Read More »
[December 23, 2015] Appearing on the cover of LIFE Magazine on December 19, 1969, Charles Manson is the infamous cult leader of the “Family”.1 Cult leadership is frequently associated with megalomaniacs, crazies, and psychotic and narcissistic personalities. The danger may be evident in the case of Charles Manson but I will argue that it is for more insidious… Read More »
[December 22, 2015] I worked for a commander in the recent past who could talk with absolute clarity about any complex subject. His orders were clear to avoid any confusion to avoid mistakes that could be costly. Of the many well-known senior U.S. Army officers, he was the best person that I’d ever known that could do this… Read More »
[December 21, 2015] In high school all my friends and I took every science course we could. We did this because we’d made up our minds that we were going to college and wanted to see what we liked most as a potential major. The chemistry teacher was the schools most likeable and that helped explain why many… Read More »