[September 19, 2018] The U.S. military sometimes embodies, not unlike other complex organizations what I will call, a “culture of slow change.” If there is, however, one thing that is quick, predictable, and helpful, it is the fact that our troops themselves are highly responsive. Want a mission accomplished? They are on it quick and decisively. What an… Read More »
[September 17, 2018] I’ve been asked on several occasions to re-publish a few of my older articles on the U.S. military as a way to reintroduce the concept of “effectiveness in teams.” Today I’ve done that with an article on battle-hardened troops. Enjoy! [Originally published September 2, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles… Read More »
[September 15, 2018] A few long-time readers will recognize this title from a similar article from early last year (see link). In it I wrote that great leaders understanding people are at the central theme of leadership. But there is more. Leadership is also influenced heavily by one’s culture. Culture is an accumulation of behavioral practices that both… Read More »
[September 13, 2018] In 1994, Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East.” The problem, as we can see 25 years after the signing of the Oslo Accords on this date, September 13, 1993, that the entire accords were a disaster and a failure… Read More »
[September 12, 2018] Today, I’m visiting Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to witness an Engineer School graduation. Being here is a good time for me because I’m reminded of what the school’s Sergeant Major once told me. ‘When studying any conflict,’ he said, ‘remember that all wars begin before the first battle.’ I thought I understood what he meant… Read More »
[September 11, 2018] Good leadership means bringing people together for a good cause. It means that regardless of the circumstance, a leader must make every effort to ensure that our common goals are achieved to the benefit of everyone. Today, on the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic attacks on America, is a good time to relook at… Read More »
[September 10, 2018] Last week I was at a local college listening to a criminology professor complain about the “epidemic” of police shootings in America.1 A young student asked him what he thought about the Opioid crisis which was responsible for many times more deaths and social ills. The professor said he didn’t care about that problem. Frankly,… Read More »
[September 9, 2018] Leadership always means that the best leaders will set expectations and do so clearly and convincingly. They also set high standards in what they expect of others and manage those expectations carefully; for this is the only way to achieve long-term success. Leaders also hold others and themselves to those standards. By enforcing them they… Read More »
[September 8, 2018] A year ago I criticized U.S. policy on the use of Chemical Weapons by Syrian President Assad. Although he denied it, a red line was drawn by U.S. President Barack Obama.1 Confirmed by his Secretary of State John Kerry, he wrote in his new book Every Day Is Extra (2018) that Obama’s failure to enforce… Read More »
[September 6, 2018] A few years ago I met a young lady working in the IT field and who was unhappy but getting paid very well. She worked from home, got regular raises, but told me she didn’t want to be a “team leader” because she was sick a bunch. Disappointed, she quit and went to work elsewhere.… Read More »