Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[October 21, 2021] Command Sergeant Majors (CSM) are the U.S. Army’s most senior enlisted soldiers and all our military services have an equivalent. They are highly respected and they give their wisdom and advice to senior commanders to help their units run smoothly. One CSM once gave me his thoughts on why there are so many weak leaders… Read More »
[October 20, 2021] Early yesterday afternoon, I received a call from a friend named David. He is the son of an Auschwitz Concentration Camp survivor. It’s his dad’s story I want to tell today. The stories of Jews leading up to and during WWII give us lessons about powerful governments. His dad’s story, in particular, in the halls… Read More »
[October 19, 2021] One of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted characteristic of a leader is the ability to forgive. Rarely talked about and while practiced by many, unevenly applied. Leaders who practice forgiveness will benefit everyone in their organization and simultaneously retain the best worker talent and improve performance. People make mistakes – some unintentional and some by… Read More »
[October 17, 2021] I was breaking in a replacement Flag officer at the end of my tour in South Korea. The job was demanding and required me to work closely with and live alongside my Korean counterparts. My replacement, however, had difficulty adapting to the new assignment and was eventually sent home early. What did he lack? He… Read More »
[October 16, 2021] Growing up in the Deep South during the 1950s and 60s gave me a curious outlook on what it was like to be an adult. One of those experiences involved riding horses and riding them bareback; is there any other way? If you wanted to be a “man,” then you did things like riding bareback,… Read More »
[October 15, 2021] I’ve been asked the question, are military leader traits different, several times. The answer is, of course, “no” … the characteristics of military leaders are the same as all other leaders. To some of my friends, they were a bit surprised by my answer because, like many people, they are confusing leadership style with leadership… Read More »
[October 14, 2021] One of the most challenging character traits of leaders to achieve and to develop is the ability to judge character in others. Leaders are looking for specific traits that predict successful mission completion or are obstacles to teamwork. Sadly, we often see inexperienced leaders who misjudge character, leading to unforeseen problems. “I admire men of… Read More »
[October 13, 2021] There comes a time in all our lives that we must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or diplomatic. We take that position because it is the right thing to do. Over the past few years, we’ve seen many leaders take the low road of moral cowardice rather than subject themselves to ridicule.… Read More »
[October 13, 2021] Well, I have my first book signing coming up here in a little over a week, and I am looking forward to it. A local restaurant, The Historic Smithville Inn, will be hosting the event on October 23 from Noon to 5 pm. That’s a long day of signing, but I’m sure I can hang… Read More »
[October 12, 2021] One of the unique advantages leaders have is cheerleading for their organization. Yes, being a leader also means you must be a cheerleader, someone who aggressively promotes their people, organization, and mission at the appropriate times. This is what great leaders do … and those who do not cheerlead should have their loyalty questioned. Much… Read More »