[March 7, 2017] A recent video posted on the Facebook page of U.S. Senate Democrats includes “words of inspiration” and is a recent example of how leader words can have multiple meanings and multiple interpretations. I’d like to use this opportunity to restate that good leadership means being clear in what is said and every effort is made… Read More »
[February 23, 2017] I own a dog. In the United States, more than a third of all families own at least one dog; the most common household pet.1 Whether you’ve ever had one or not, it’s unsurprising that anyone can learn good things from them. For example, leaders can also learn from a dog (see my earlier post on… Read More »
[February 21, 2017] There are many senior government leaders who strongly believe that war solves nothing and therefore it is an important moral duty to avoid war at all costs. Such a position is contrary to the history of humankind but there are a few academics who study war that agree; they study war, not to promote war… Read More »
[February 11, 2017] It has often been said– and I want to reinforce it here – that successful leadership means possessing a strong ability to bring people together to achieve a common goal. Implied here is that the leader helps shape consensus in others. We see leaders do this through their good words and deeds. “A genuine leader… Read More »
[February 7, 2017] As a family in my early teenage years during the 1960s, we watched with rapped attention the television series Batman (starring Adam West). Batman and his associate Robin regularly brought the bad guys to justice through a variety of kicks and punches. Yet it was Batman who put it into perspective for me because he… Read More »
[January 16, 2017] Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great leader and all inspiring students of leadership should study him closely.1 The reason is that MLK was not just a great visionary and communicator but that he was great despite his many deep personal flaws. We should remember both his achievements and his struggles for that is what… Read More »
[January 1, 2017] A New Year is upon us and one that brings new and more difficult challenges. Leaders in particular will see more complex problems requiring, more than anything else, greater use of their social and intellectual talents to solve. Below I’ve listed some of those challenges that leaders can expect to test them when working at… Read More »
[December 21, 2016] One thing I like most about great leaders is that they don’t mince their words. My grandmother reminded me often to “speak plainly and loudly” if I wanted to be heard above others. She was one to never filter what she thought and taught all us grandchildren to never disguise our thinking in “double talk… Read More »
[November 29, 2016] Late last week marked the end of Fidel Castro, who governed the Republic of Cuba from its revolution in 1959 to 2006. Many senior politicians across the world have marked his death with comments branding Castro as either an enlightened statesman or evil dictator. But, there are some personal characteristics that can be attributed to… Read More »
[November 23, 2016] In the meeting halls of various veteran organizations there are old men telling war stories to other men; sometimes boorish, always boring, often brash. That’s the stereotype anyway and yet my take is that there are actually good tales being told … if we only are willing to listen with an open mind. It’s difficult… Read More »