Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[December 5, 2016]. Today I’m slow posting due to relocating from New York City to southern New Jersey. The nearest town center is about 4 miles away and the ocean beaches are nearby! And I will be without Internet for a couple of days so all this typing is done on my iPhone 4. A few comments to… Read More »
[December 4, 2016] A few days ago a small, rusting wrought-iron gate was found in rural Norway. Any of us would not have given it even a passing thought. But this gate bore the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” or “Work Sets You Free” and was the gate in which prisoners passed as they entered the infamous Concentration camp… Read More »
[December 3, 2016] We’ve all been there, sitting in the classroom with other students and being told by the teacher that following the rules is important to learning. And so it is. But following the rules in everyday life also applies to leaders and they must understand that when the decision is made to forgo that requirement, there… Read More »
[Updated] This afternoon we learned that the U.S. flag which had been ordered removed by Hampshire College president Jonathon Lash, has now been reinstated. Lash called it a “learning experience” and that “this is what free speech looks like.” He is right and it is also what leadership failure looks like. [December 2, 2016] A few days ago,… Read More »
[December 1, 2016] Humor is a great American pastime. And so it is with many other societies that have enjoyed the benefit of Democracy, wealth, and peace. One form of humor is especially poetic and that is satire. Satire can be used to mock leaders and is an effective tool to deliver a strong yet cloaked message to… Read More »
[November 30, 2016] Whenever people talk about important leadership traits, they never fail to mention intelligence as a key component in making leaders successful. Just like honesty and courage, intelligence always finds a place as a crucial component of leadership. Yet anyone who owns a dog and has had their dog around others know that even dogs (and… Read More »
[November 29, 2016] Late last week marked the end of Fidel Castro, who governed the Republic of Cuba from its revolution in 1959 to 2006. Many senior politicians across the world have marked his death with comments branding Castro as either an enlightened statesman or evil dictator. But, there are some personal characteristics that can be attributed to… Read More »
[November 28, 2016] One of the most iconic and crucial meetings between senior leaders happened on this date, November 28, 1943 and was located in Tehran, Iraq. The leader conference was to set the stage in strategizing for the defeat of Nazi Germany and ultimately the Japanese Empire during World War II. An undervalued method for senior leaders… Read More »
[November 27, 2016] During World War II, one of the strategies employed by the Allies against Nazi Germany was the bombing and sabotage of ball-bearing factories. The idea was to grind to a halt their highly effective armored forces which depended upon those ball-bearings. Today we see something similar as the U.S. strategically targets the Islamic State’s (IS)… Read More »
[November 25, 2016] I’m always amazed at the number of people I meet that use the excuse that they can’t do it (just name the behavior) for any number of reasons. When leaders tell me they can’t do something it is especially shocking and frustrating. I come from a “can do” military culture and while the military may… Read More »