[September 04, 2014] Nothing is more important to humans when at work than the spoken word. It ensures good communication. When leaders talk, people listen and only by the speaking can a leader do those things required. The spoken word is like the oil that lubricates a machine; it allows the entire mechanism to function properly … like… Read More »
[September 04, 2014] One of the greatest disappointments in leadership comes about when those in senior positions fail to see a big problem as it occurs and then fail to take action when they do. This is what happened at Veterans Administrations hospitals across the United States when an audit revealed that “double books” were kept for veteran… Read More »
[September 03, 2014] Shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, an Iowa third-grade teacher did something remarkable. She gave her class an unforgettable lesson in discrimination. While this lesson is what we are most likely to see and appreciate, what we don’t see is behind the scenes in the moral courage of the teacher. Fortunately,… Read More »
[September 02, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles than the concept of “battle hardened” troops. In most discussions about them people are saying how the battle-hardened troop is more effective at fighting, how they are calmer and composed in combat, and how they are courageous under fire. While there is some truth to… Read More »
[August 31, 2014] It is often said that the performance of a leader in a garrison environment cannot predict how that leader will do in combat. This well-known rule of human performance has been recorded since the time of the Roman Empire. Under peaceful, less dangerous circumstances, the military leader has command priorities that differ from combat where… Read More »
[August 30, 2014] In the study of senior leader roles, it is always informative to look at current leaders that are playing either a big or expanding role in world affairs. That is the case today with Russian President Vladimir Putin – his leadership style being more bold than most. He told a group at a youth camp… Read More »
[August 29, 2014] On this day in 2005, a Category 4 hurricane came ashore close to New Orleans, Louisiana. Although not the most powerful storm in U.S. history, it was the worst natural disaster experienced. The destruction to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama was serious. There were many leadership failures leading up to and during the… Read More »
[August 29, 2014] An interesting case is working its way through the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Apparently, Guam has a Decolonization Registry that discriminates along racial lines. A person living in Guam has sued the government saying he was not allowed to register because he was not a “native inhabitant.” Guam’s race-based restrictions… Read More »
[August 28, 2014] Telling me that there are “evil people” who may want to kidnap me as a child, my grandmother said to never talk to strangers. Likewise, I learned about a few “bad” things in the military. Despite me describing them as bad, if lessons come from them, then a positive outcome has been achieved. Here are… Read More »
[August 28, 2014] One of my first experiences and frustrations in leadership as a brand new U.S. Army second lieutenant was that my commander’s indecisiveness made the lives of his men difficult. Upon my arrival at the unit I got less than 5 minutes in his office for him to welcome me and to give me my assignment.… Read More »