[September 21, 2018] A good friend of mine, a logistics Army Colonel, had a military signature block that read, “The answer is yes, what’s your request?” I found it appropriate that this officer put the needs of soldiers above all else. In 2006, we were preparing for the now famous troop “surge” in Iraq. Construction was fast and… 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 19, 2018] The U.S. military sometimes embodies, not unlike other complex organizations what I will call, a “culture of slow change.” If there is, however, one thing that is quick, predictable, and helpful, it is the fact that our troops themselves are highly responsive. Want a mission accomplished? They are on it quick and decisively. What an… Read More »
[September 18, 2018] U.S. Army General George Patton once told his reconnaissance troops to just “drive down that road until you get blown up.” During World War II, Patton was known as the toughest and most successful fighting general the Allies had and he constantly relied upon reconnaissance to find, fix, and destroy Nazi army formations. “Time spent… 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 16, 2018] Summer is passing quickly and it will not be long before the leaves fall from the trees and we start to experience the cool, dry air of early Autumn. This is a great time of year and gives everyone the chance to re-calibrate our reading habits and desires to learn more about lessons from the… 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 14, 2018] On occasion, I like to watch old war movies. I watch them for the action and to get a small glimpse into what made them so popular back in the day they were made. Movies are made to make money but they are also a look into the minds of those who lived at that… Read More »
[September 13, 2018] In 1994, Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East.” The problem, as we can see 25 years after the signing of the Oslo Accords on this date, September 13, 1993, that the entire accords were a disaster and a failure… Read More »
[September 12, 2018] Today, I’m visiting Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to witness an Engineer School graduation. Being here is a good time for me because I’m reminded of what the school’s Sergeant Major once told me. ‘When studying any conflict,’ he said, ‘remember that all wars begin before the first battle.’ I thought I understood what he meant… Read More »