[July 22, 2014] As I progressed through the military ranks, I was always both surprised and amazed those senior officers 2 or 3 ranks above me always seemed to ahead of my peers and me. To us it was like they were intellectually superior and were able to predict the future. It turns out that they were like… Read More »
[July 21, 2014] It seems that humankind is at war with itself somewhere in the world every day. In the Clash of Civilizations, Samuel P. Huntington put forth the idea that cultural and religious identifies will be the main source of conflict. Today’s conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas is just one example to support… Read More »
[July 21, 2014] In his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey writes that the most successful people are able to “sharpen the saw”. He means is to balance and renew your energy, especially mental renewal. This is done, he notes, through “good reading.” In the military it is recommend that all leaders read… Read More »
[July 20, 2014] One advantage of living near a large park in New York City is the ability to get away from the hustle during the week. It offers a time to relax a little and for those so inclined, a chance to see a game or two played by locals. Playing sports in the park is something… Read More »
[July 20, 2014] The best way for senior leaders to learn about what is really happening in their organization is to, simply, walk around and talk to people. That may appear to be uninspiring and lack originality, but it works … and it works well. In conversations with the most senior CEOs and military flag officers, one of… Read More »
[July 19, 2014] The current immigration debate is really about political power. The rhetoric coming from Washington DC would make it appear that the United States is on a humanitarian mission to save families form Central and South America. There is no argument that when historians look back on these years, they will see that the costs to… Read More »
[July 19, 2014] Picking good daily habits for senior leaders is rather easy because there are so many to choose form. Today, selected is the good habit that most leaders actually violate regularly; making assumptions that turn out not to be true. People make assumptions in everything we do, otherwise nothing would get done but here the reference… Read More »
[July 18, 2014] The best leaders have developed a capacity to engage people and make things happen. Often this seems effortless. However, good habits for senior leaders are something developed over time through personal attention and hard work. Today begins a short series on some of the best habits for senior leaders. They are also appropriate for everyone… Read More »
[July 17, 2014] Can leaders learn from reality television? Earlier this year I proposed that, yes, we can learn from television and from movies … but there are some serious limitations of course. One reality show called “Say Yes to the Dress” is what the name implies. Women are looking for a unique dress to wear on a… Read More »
[July 17, 2014] One of the most fundamental truths about humans is that we can accomplish more things … faster, better, greater … than we can working alone. This is why teamwork is so valued wherever we work and play; and has been throughout history. Humans respect and admire teamwork in sports, business, military, religion, and family life;… Read More »