[September 22, 2018] The other day I was talking with two recently-retired enlisted soldiers who had each served almost 10 combat tours; in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s a lot of combat time by any measure. But what caught me by surprise was that they considered themselves just ordinary soldiers. To me, they are the epitome of selfless service.… Read More »
By guest blogger Mike Hanski [September 20, 2018] Keynote speaker and educator Stephen Covey once said: “Leadership is a choice, not a position.” In today’s constantly changing world, ruled by Millennials and Gen Z who are self-expressive, tech-savvy, and creative, leaders should eager for constant improvement if they want to develop career and motivate others to follow them.… Read More »
[September 17, 2018] I’ve been asked on several occasions to re-publish a few of my older articles on the U.S. military as a way to reintroduce the concept of “effectiveness in teams.” Today I’ve done that with an article on battle-hardened troops. Enjoy! [Originally published September 2, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles… Read More »
[September 15, 2018] A few long-time readers will recognize this title from a similar article from early last year (see link). In it I wrote that great leaders understanding people are at the central theme of leadership. But there is more. Leadership is also influenced heavily by one’s culture. Culture is an accumulation of behavioral practices that both… Read More »
[September 11, 2018] Good leadership means bringing people together for a good cause. It means that regardless of the circumstance, a leader must make every effort to ensure that our common goals are achieved to the benefit of everyone. Today, on the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic attacks on America, is a good time to relook at… Read More »
[September 3, 2018] In the United States, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. Like all successful nations, the U.S. built its foundation on Christianity and Capitalism. Despite the hardships of many, we recognize their hard work and patriotism. Ultimately this is why Labor Day was created. Whether it is a farm laborer,… Read More »
[September 2, 2018] A quick reminder that this clearing the spindle article, like the few I posted in the past, is about things I couldn’t get to in detail during the week. Today, I focus on the growing political incorrectness that is emerging in Western culture. U.S. Senator John McCain dies and deserves our respect. Mark Twain once… Read More »
[August 27, 2018] If there is one fear a good leader has it’s that deceit must be recognized for what it is and confronted. Unsurprisingly, there are leaders who would use deceit to further their own selfish ends. For example, in 1956 China the travesty of deceit was used in their Hundred Flowers Campaign to root out intellectuals… Read More »
[August 26, 2018] This was a piece of good advice I received the day I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. “Don’t burn your bridges” was probably created to mentally illustrate what happens when you end a relationship that you never plan to go back to. “People burn their bridges until they realize they’re stranded.… Read More »
[August 25, 2018] Many years ago I was accused of ‘babysitting’ my troops because my priority as a Flag officer was taking care of soldiers. There is merit to the argument that modern leader trends now emphasize better treatment of employees and staff. But does that mean we are babysitting them? The Commanding General at my Division headquarters… Read More »