[December 28, 2018] No one wants to get into ugly controversies. I know of no one who does. But leadership means being at the tip of the spear and consciously deciding to make difficult choices; even when the popular mood advises against it. “We take and must continue to take morally hazardous actions to preserve our civilization.” –… Read More »
[December 24, 2018] It was Christmas Eve, 1826, and there were no little feet running through the house getting ready to open gifts. At the famous U.S. West Point Military Academy there was, however, good cheer that was about to erupt into a riot. What is known as the Great West Point Eggnog Riot was the result of… Read More »
[December 13, 2018] For anyone not living under a rock, you certainly will agree that many folks today are just too sensitive. As I see it, the problem is that leaders are, as well, too sensitive. We are quick to be insulted; believing others have disrespected, snubbed, or neglected us. And this leader trend is worsening compared to… Read More »
[December 9, 2018] There will always be unintended consequences in what we do; even in the most righteous and just behaviors. American colleges and universities have taken great strides over the past few decades to be welcoming and committed to justice for all. Yet, in their zeal to correct wrongs, they themselves have deviated from their traditional mission… Read More »
[December 1, 2018] Millennials want to be sure their career is growing at all times and are connected all over the world by digital communication channels. With all these many unique characteristics, it can be complicated to leverage these attributes in a way that leads to success in the workplace. Here are a few tips you can follow… Read More »
[November 28, 2018] Many years ago I was writing one of my first evaluations of a junior officer. Before I started, my boss gave me some advice; “Don’t use words that are overtly critical. Use ‘bland’ language. We will know what it means.” In other words, in the military we use coded language that says one thing but… Read More »
[November 26, 2018] With the upcoming holiday season and the time of giving, I thought it appropriate to once again address the topic that real leaders create goodwill. They create it year round. The benefits are well known and it typically takes little effort to make it happen. The benefits for a leader are straightforward. Goodwill encourages loyalty,… Read More »
[November 20, 2018] I was laughing, the kind of laugh we rarely have, while my good friend Frank was telling me about the people where he worked. You see, Frank is a “character” himself and to hear his stories about acquaintances at work was really entertaining. You see, Frank calls those who he works with, “slackers, cowards, and… Read More »
[November 16, 2018] A senior U.S. Navy admiral once told me that he wished for a penny for every time sailors told him that they were ‘just following orders.’ Usually, it was after some major blunder where things had gone terribly wrong and they were trying to make-up an excuse for their failure. I was just following orders… Read More »
[November 15, 2018] Much is to be learned from war whether we want to admit it or not. Now that we are at the 100th anniversary of the end of the “Great War,” most citizens remain reluctant to revisit the horror so that we may learn valuable lessons. One lesson is that great leaders do not lead from… Read More »