[March 2, 2018] It doesn’t matter if you are a man, woman, or child, getting ready to lead involves preparation to convince people to do things they would not ordinarily do. But … for the majority of people, they think that once they get into a leadership position someone will teach them how to lead people; this is… Read More »
[March 1, 2018] One of the first things that I learned from my military instructors on how to be a leader was to keep things simple. That’s not exactly what they said, it was keep it simple, stupid which is usually said in its acronym form KISS; oddly enough, originally a design application of the U.S. Navy in… Read More »
[February 28, 2018] Twenty-five years ago today, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began a siege to the Branch Davidian religious compound outside Waco, Texas. After seven weeks the siege ended with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) storming the compound, resulting in the deaths of 80 men, women, children of the religious group and… Read More »
[February 22, 2018] The idea that leaders are where the action is has a long history both glorious and practical. Ride to the sounds of the guns is an old catchphrase of militaries around the world.1 It is an appeal to aggressive action at the point of battle and is a central idea in great leadership. The best… Read More »
[February 21, 2018] Simon Sinek gives leaders great advice when he says that despite everyone telling us that we need listen better, in fact, we need to speak last. The skill to hold your opinion to yourself until everyone has spoken is the epitome of good leadership. He says it well (see short YouTube video, 1:40 minutes, link… Read More »
[February 20, 2018] U.S. President Harry S Truman had a sign on his desk that was there to show he personally accepted responsibility for the way the country was run. The sign read, “The buck stops here.” Good habits by leaders start at accepting responsibility for their actions and the best leaders do this daily. Leaders don’t try… Read More »
[February 19, 2018] Yesterday, I created a new Twitter account that is linked to this blog. See the Twitter icon (the first of four) in the upper right corner of this webpage. I want this account to tell the story about successful people and how they got there. Please “follow” me. Comments, especially feedback, are very welcome. [Don’t… Read More »
[February 17, 2018] While my leadership post today is not a movie review – a movie called The 15:17 to Paris just came out – it is about what leaders do and what they should do in extraordinary situations. If there is anything trained leaders are taught, it is that being passive and being hesitant to make a decision… Read More »
[February 14, 2018] Last week I was sitting in a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) when I overheard several young men talking about their upcoming Basic Training course. One was saying that the Drill Sergeants will tell you to do the impossible and then yell at you when you fail. I laughed to myself because that happened to me… Read More »
[February 9, 2018] Leadership can be taught. That is the premise on which all leadership training is based and it is the reason so many folks have achieved great things in their lives. Today, I’m beginning a new series on leader training and today my focal point will be on the Sapper Leader Course conducted by the U.S. Army… Read More »