Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[January 14, 2019] About two decades ago, psychologists hit upon a discovery that stopped them in their tracks. They had proposed that the more responsibility people possess, the more stress they have and thus less satisfaction in their life. It turns out, counterintuitive to their way of thinking, that the tough job of shouldering responsibility is directly related… Read More »
[January 13, 2019] The famous leadership expert, John C. Maxwell, once said that “You are the only person who can label what you do a failure. Failure is subjective.” I’m sure that if Mr. Maxwell had been a part of British General W.G.K. Elphinstone’s army in retreat and its subsequent massacre in the narrow Khyber Pass, Afghanistan, Mr.… Read More »
[January 11, 2019] You don’t need a chest full of medals, possess a fabulous resume, or have a handsome face to have it. Command presence is a leader’s projection to everyone present of an advanced form of authority, trust, and respect. Often described as an allusive quality, command presence is plainly noticeable when you observe someone firmly in… Read More »
[January 10, 2019] Tell a story and people will listen; give them a bunch of facts, and they will run away. The power of storytelling, especially for an experienced leader, is arguably one of the most effective means to communicate a message. “Storytelling has a narcotic power.” – Robert Harris, a modern English novelist The power of storytelling… Read More »
[January 8, 2019] Why concern ourselves with real rules for leaders? First, these are not suggestions but are things that leaders must do to be successful. Certainly, you can be a leader and disobey any number of rules, but you cannot be effective in the long term if you do. Today, my goal is to provide some additional… Read More »
[January 7, 2019] A few weeks ago I was challenged by a number of my friends to compose a list a set of rules for leaders (my Type A personality smiled upon their request). And by this they were clear in what they were saying; not suggestions, recommendations, or tips but real rules. I’ve laid out here a… Read More »
[January 6, 2019] There are many reasons leaders should express their opinion; especially when their expertise and knowledge is significant or where it would do the most good. Our leadership training and a vast array of research suggests that an inherent duty of great leaders is to provide a thoughtful opinion. However, counterintuitive advice advocates that as a… Read More »
[January 5, 2019] “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” is a well-known phrase from the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It goes on to say that these are “unalienable rights” which have been given to all humans by their creator. The best leaders are those who push us toward such common goals (as noted in this phrase) and… Read More »
[January 4, 2019] I couldn’t help it. Just like my attraction toward the study of grand strategy, I’m drawn to the study of the individual. More often, I find myself looking for ways to better understand people; usually through direct interaction but also through formal book study. Creating good habits, knowing what makes up great leadership, what leaders… Read More »
[January 3, 2019] Communism is a failure. It has failed historically in every form it takes, regardless of the political environment, an abundance of resources, the power of its leadership, or strength of its citizens. And so it is with the communist movement known as Shining Path Maoist Marxists who nearly brought the country of Peru to its… Read More »