[October 29, 2013] Most people can be leaders but only a very few can be great leaders because most do not possess the mental toughness required – intense mental toughness is a rare commodity that only a few have the will to attain. Mental toughness is not to be confused with the false sense of bravado or with… Read More »
[October 28, 2013] A frequent question asked is: “What is the most challenging part of a senior leader’s job?” Most believe that dealing with the impact of America’s unstable economic situation, overwhelming organizational bureaucracy, or working with insufferable government agencies unfamiliar with the leader’s organization would the challenge. While these are a bit demanding, they are not the… Read More »
[October 27, 2013] Good leaders are not defined by any one temperament. Leaders come with a variety of temperaments that may change depending upon the circumstances that are needed to produce a particular set of results. There are times when situations demand that the leader have a cool and stable temperament. The most obvious is that of a… Read More »
[October 26, 2013] If you want to be a good leader, but especially if you want to be a great leader, plan on doing things outside your personal comfort zone. Senior leaders must be always on the lookout for ways to improve their capability and capacity to get things done. “If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.” – Unknown … Read More »
[October 25, 2013] As children we used to tease each other occasionally by telling our friends we had a real “good deal” for them. We would sell them a bridge … called the Brooklyn Bridge … at a great price. This teasing game likely came about in the 1800s when the bridge was associated with some political corruption. … Read More »
[Updated December 28, 2013] Great leaders have extraordinary persistence. Yes, possession of large doses of persistence is a prerequisite for great senior executive leaders. The dictionary defines persistence as, “Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” In other words, do not expect persistence to be easy. In fact, it’s hard. For… Read More »
[October 23, 2013] Many years ago in my college days, I saw the movie “Being There” staring Woody Allen and Shirley Maclaine. The movie is about a low intelligent gardener whose only knowledge of the world is from watching television. It is a sort of pre Forrest Gump type movie with the main character who lucks into fame… Read More »
[October 22, 2013] It is said that learning from your mistakes is the best teacher. I think the jury is still out on that judgment but failure certainly provides the most unforgettable opportunity to learn. Senior executive leaders will learn lessons from those failures just like any leader. However, the lessons that senior leaders take away are more… Read More »
[October 21, 2013] By discussing core values, it is again easy to select an organization that clearly articulates its values. The U.S. Army has seven values which follow the acronym LDRSHIP. They are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage. There is the expectation that every Soldier, regardless of rank, memorizes and lives by those values.… Read More »
[October 20, 2013] Every decision that leaders make involves some level of bias. The problem is not that there is bias, a natural function, but that some biases in decision-making and employee affairs can lead to an incorrect judgment, unfounded conclusions, and uncertainty. Senior leaders are interested in both mission accomplishment and taking care of their employees. Therefore,… Read More »