[January 20, 2017] The first book I ever read that dealt seriously with the topic of leadership and discipline was General George S. Patton’s book (1982 edition), War As I Knew It.1 For the U.S. military, the early 1980s was a time of change; moving from the legacy tactics of Vietnam to a modern, brigade-centric combat force. “There… Read More »
[January 19, 2017] Great leaders know instinctively that those who can inspire others to learn, be, and do more in their lives possess the best and rarest leadership skills.1 They know that it’s not their title that makes them great, the money they are paid, or the number of followers; greatness only comes from inspiring others to achieve… Read More »
[January 17, 2017] This is not a history lesson. Neither is this a lesson in botany. What many of us were taught about the Irish Potato Famine was that the Irish were ignorant (drunk and lazy) and that led to the potato (and the crops demise) being used for most of the population’s nutrition needs. The famine, however,… Read More »
[January 16, 2017] Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great leader and all inspiring students of leadership should study him closely.1 The reason is that MLK was not just a great visionary and communicator but that he was great despite his many deep personal flaws. We should remember both his achievements and his struggles for that is what… Read More »
[January 15, 2016] It’s an annual tradition of mine to make forecasts for the New Year and to predict those topics and issues that will be at the top for American senior leaders. Last year it was the presidential election and Islamic terrorism. I predict 2017 will deviate little from last year. So there should be few surprises… Read More »
[January 14, 2017] One daily practice leaders should make a habit of is to follow important (and open) conversations at the senior leader level. We are fortunate to get that very opportunity and every 4 to 8 years in the United States when a new president transitions to the job. To witness how leaders make changes in a large… Read More »
[January 13, 2017] I was a newbie to the U.S. Army back in the mid-1970s when I joined as a Private. On my first day in the army, my knowledge of military culture was about to be improved when I failed to salute an officer. Failure to render a proper salute is, of course, a big deal and… Read More »
[January 12, 2017] The external pressures on U.S. police forces to fold in the face of racial controversies are enormous. We are witnessing that if race is a factor in any arrest, the police officers are forced to defend themselves from racist charges. That is why I bring to your attention, the City of Pittsburgh Acting Police Chief… Read More »
[January 10, 2016] Success comes in many forms and is the result of good habits practiced daily. Leaders give credit where it’s due, accept feedback, are generous, and treat others fairly. But leaders should also look like a leader and that is not so easy. “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” – John… Read More »
[January 9, 2017] Turner Classic Movies is running a number of classics this week and one of my favorite films is the 1967 movie classic In the Heat of the Night. The movie is about a black police detective (Virgil Tibbs, played by Sidney Poitier) involved in a murder investigation in a small racist town in Mississippi. The… Read More »