[December 31, 2015] I thought it most appropriate to end the year with a special shout-out to all the heroes who have made the United States such a great nation. Serving in the Vietnam War, Roy P. Benavidez was not just any hero; he was a tough and courageous soldier. Although he didn’t like to be called a… Read More »
[December 29, 2015] From Mahatma Gandhi to Winston Churchill to Theodore Roosevelt, all had something in common with the great leaders across history. Each had extreme self-discipline in their lives. Self-discipline helps people connect today’s behavior with tomorrow’s results; allowing a leader to know which is the right thing to do. Good leaders live by their ability to… Read More »
[December 19, 2015] … to be a great leader. A commander of mine a few years ago often developed new ideas, many of which were rarely acted upon. Innovative, creative, and intelligent leaders are rare and they play an important role, but it takes more than good ideas for a person to demonstrate great leadership that must be… Read More »
[December 16, 2015] As military truisms go, this saying has been around since before recorded history. To underestimate your enemy often led directly to your death and to a Darwinian winnowing of leaders. In the business world, a related axiom is that you should never underestimate your competition. When senior leaders underestimate the enemy, people suffer – massacres,… Read More »
[December 14, 2015] A recurrent theme here in theLeaderMaker.com blog is that those people with resilient personalities are more likely to be successful and productive members of society. There are additional benefits, like better mental and physical health, and that’s why leaders are look for ways to encourage resilience in others. However, there has been pushback on the… Read More »
[December 13, 2015] New ideas are refreshing. Action is exhilarating. People with conviction are interesting and influential. I’m starting a new series about political leadership; not necessarily about politicians but about anyone who has fresh ideas about politics and how to win in that arena. In my first post on political leadership I’ll be introducing to my readers… Read More »
[December 6, 2015] Today Hanukkah begins at sundown and is celebrated starting on the 25th day of Kislev. Hanukkah means “dedication” and lasts eight successive days celebrating the rededication of the Jewish Temple following a victorious rebellion by the Jews against their oppressors. Leaders show wisdom and respect by recognizing holidays and special occasions that are meaningful and… Read More »
[December 3, 2015] About once a month or so I highlight a “hero” who showed an unusually high degree of physical or moral courage. It’s rare to find those who display both and why I’m pointing out the case of Zofia Kossak (later Kossak-Szczucka). Although there are many who were killed and their names will never be known,… Read More »
[November 26, 2015] Incidents over the past few weeks in the Middle East have heightened our awareness of the volatility of the region. What many respected and proven leaders advise is a dose of tolerance and patience among the major powers; especially those that have strong military forces in the area. Senior leaders who consistently produce success understand… Read More »
[November 24, 2015] Leadership is certainly not easy, but no one who has taken such a position does so with the intent to do a bad job of it. Poor leadership – that can be described as being ineffective – is also not something that comes about due to a single error or bad decision but from a… Read More »