[March 17, 2021] I’m reminded today of an old U.S. Army recruiting slogan from the mid-1980s; “Be all you can be.”1 The commercial series was one of the Army’s best. Great stuff. It worked beginning in folks into the military. As regular readers of my leadership blog know, my works are influenced by many; one such person is… Read More »
[March 16, 2021] In a Politico magazine article last week, author John Harris had an interesting take on why so many leaders are jerks. I always wondered that myself. Leaders are supposed to be likable – at least those leaders in Western nations. The question we should be asking ourselves, according to Mr. Harris, is why so many… Read More »
[March 15, 2021] The historical evidence is in, and it is unequivocal. Weak leadership inevitably produces criticism against whatever it produces. In the examination of weak leaders – from the military to politics – we see an emerging pattern. Weak leadership always backfires. Weak leaders such as British PM Neville Chamberlain and French PM Édouard Daladier, signers of… Read More »
[March 14, 2021] The story of Cinderella is a well-known folk tale about cruelty and triumph. A young woman, Cinderella, is living in appalling circumstances when suddenly her fortune changes but not without one big problem. Cinderella’s two stepsisters are an obstacle when they try to subvert the prince, looking for the one who fits the glass slipper. … Read More »
[March 13, 2021] Nowadays, the majority of job listings ask for “strong leadership skills” in job applicants, even for a non-management position. How can you develop leadership qualities while not working in a leadership position? You never know when the opportunity to lead may pop up in your career, so one must always be prepared for the task… Read More »
[March 12, 2021] Be a steadying presence. Leaders set the tone. If the leader is excited, then the team will be excited. If the leader is angry, the team will be angry. If the leader has a constant calm and steadying presence, the team will succeed in the most challenging situations. It is harder in practice than it… Read More »
[March 11, 2021] Guys my age grew up on old Western movies. The plots were usually the same; a wagon train headed West gets attacked by Indians, and the U.S. Army Cavalry comes to the rescue. There was plenty of action as the cavalry chases off the attackers. Always present with the troopers was the red and white… Read More »
[March 10, 2021] “When you’re about to go into combat, you do what you gotta do. Expect the unexpected and ready yourself.” Sitting on Jonny Hancock’s porch sipping whiskey and smoking cigars, we had a conversation like no other. Jonny was giving me some leadership advice, ‘keep a bullet in the chamber [of your rifle],’ he said. In… Read More »
[March 9, 2021] Jonathan “Jonny” Hancock spent his first year in the Army as a cook. He said it was a good time; plenty of food to eat, no forced marches, and the top brass left you alone. But it left him wanting more. When I interviewed Jonny, he was turning 75 but still had the vigor and… Read More »
[March 8, 2021] Leaders are judged by results, not so much by words. Achievements are accomplished through action by teams guided by a leader’s vision. One way such success can be assured is to pin the rose on a responsible person. I learned this lesson the hard way on the day I received my first leader promotion to… Read More »