[January 09, 2015] Those employed in private business are likely to know a military veteran in the workplace. Not surprisingly, that veteran is more likely to show good leader traits and is more likely to be trusted, relative to their peers. Why veterans take on leadership jobs and quickly do well in business leader roles is no accident.… Read More »
[January 08, 2015] In Part 1 of this why veterans fail series, I proposed that military veterans who fail more than their peers would likely have failed anyway. Many veterans will see this if they look closely at the issue, as surely as I have. I argue that there are two possible factors. First, the self-election of those… Read More »
[January 07, 2015] Anyone familiar with the debate over why veterans fail at a greater rate in college, business, and other measures of wellness, know that the most customary reason given is their inability to integrate back into society. I would like to propose a more fundamental view and that is U.S. military veterans fail more often because they… Read More »
[January 04, 2014] My grandmother told me to always do the right thing – and grandmothers are always giving the best of advice. As leaders we are obligated to do what we believe to be the right thing. For example, U.S President Obama has repeatedly invoked this to justify executive actions on immigration, health care, etc. Yet, if… Read More »
[January 03, 2014] Learning about leadership starts at a young age. As a little boy in the late 1950s, when visiting my grandparents, I was sent to the fields to pick cotton by hand. After my first day, my grandfather paid me my wage of 10 cents. That day I learned valuable lessons on leadership I didn’t realize… Read More »
[January 02, 2014] As the 2015 New Year begins, people across the globe will resolve to improve their lives and perhaps the lives of others. Leaders can also use this tradition to reinforce their determination to do better. Here is a list of 10 things that you might consider as part of your leader resolutions: Be a mentor:… Read More »
[December 30, 2014] A powerful debate has been ongoing whether the sense of duty in leaders has been on the decline … or not. Recently I was involved in a lengthy conversation with senior military officers and business leaders on this topic. The common thinking is that our sense of duty is indeed slipping. Our military and business… Read More »
[December 29, 2014] A movement, based on the idea that children should not be protected from everything imaginable, is beginning to make some headway in Canada and the United States. They say overprotective parents are preventing their kids from developing into well-balanced adults. Called Free Range Kids, children are allowed to be more independent, gaining resilience and critical… Read More »
[December 28, 2014] As part of the tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I, we are recognizing U.S. Marine Sergeant Dan Daly. Sergeant Daly is notable because he entered WWI already having received the Medal of Honor twice. The bravery of Daly during his military service is awe inspiring and he is a… Read More »
[December 27, 2014] It is actually easy to point out the mistakes of senior leaders because of their visibility. With a multitude of mass media outlets, the venues to read or see the spoken and written word of leaders are easily available. More difficult to find is good commentary from those very same leaders. Pope Francis is one… Read More »