Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[January 19, 2020] As leaders rise through their organizations, there is a standard piece of advice that is supposed to help them. Organizations are inherently complex and chaotic. Thus, we are told that leaders must focus their efforts a mile wide and an inch deep. The reasoning is persuasive. If a leader needs a greater understanding, the argument… Read More »
[January 17, 2016] When I retired from the U.S. Army back in 2014, I began reading more in-depth books that pushed my understanding of famous people. I was most interested with famous military men and biographies fulfilled that desire, but few could give me the real thinking of those men. What I didn’t realize at the time was… Read More »
[January 16, 2020] A number of my blog’s readers have graciously recommended several beautiful books for highlighting. Thank you, and please continue to email or post those recommendations in the comments section. I’ll do my best to select some of the more informative works. There are some of those recommended that are popular, usually from high-level politicians or… Read More »
[January 14, 2020] “Death to the Dictator” was the chant from Iranians after demonstrations that broke out at several Tehran universities.1 These political problems come in the aftermath of Iran’s leaders adamantly denying involvement in the crash of a civilian passenger airplane. For three days, Iran blamed the plane’s crash on an engine malfunction. What the leaders learned… Read More »
[January 13, 2020] A few nights ago, I had an interesting conversation with a young man about his philosophy on raising kids. Below is part of the conversation (as best as I can remember it) that is at the heart what he thinks best for his children. I liked Bob M’s story1 enough that the ideas he expressed… Read More »
[January 10, 2020] Two Saturdays ago, a call went out to local people in my community that a military veteran was to be buried soon, and there were no relatives to claim the body. A short time later in a driving, cold rainstorm over 200 people turned out to be at the grave site of a fallen comrade. … Read More »
[January 9, 2020] Many techniques work well in delivering negative feedback. My dad, who worked his way up through the ranks of the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MOPAC), was fond of the Sandwich Technique.1 He told me that it was always best to surround criticism with compliments. It goes something like this, “Bob, you’re talented. You screwed up on… Read More »
[January 8, 2020] A little disruption in the Satterfield household this morning; my computer failed but my iPad is filling in admirably. I’ll get to my points quickly and keep this article short. Attack on U.S. military base at Al Asad and Erbil, Iraq. News from major news channels are coming in screaming headlines about World War III… Read More »
[January 7, 2020] Never heard of them? Me either. The reason that I’m highlighting them today is due to their philosophy of good sportsmanship. Specifically, they advocate for fair chase hunting in support of habitat conservation.1 The club was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt; before his Rough Rider days or before becoming President of the U.S.2 The… Read More »
[January 6, 2020] It should be profoundly evident that reading for leaders is essential. Reading is vital for the development of the mind by introducing new ideas and ways of doing things. Leaders, in particular, gain from an assortment of thinking methodologies. Such methods are why we often say that when a leader thinks, it is not in… Read More »