Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[May 10, 2017] The day was August 29, 1974, the temperature over 100 degrees, and the ants were all over us … but we never forgot our lesson that day. Fort Polk, Louisiana is known for its biting critters and tough Drill Sergeants and on this Thursday afternoon we were low crawling our way to “destroy” a simulated… Read More »
[May 9, 2017] For the next several days I will be reworking parts of theLeaderMaker.com blog. Some of the work is cosmetic and some involves enhancing the speed of the website itself. I’m also looking into using the site in new ways. Expect several “tests” to occur. However, you should continue to have full access to the site… Read More »
[May 9, 2017] Occasionally I run across a book, typically out of print, which gives a unique view on the thinking of a leader whose experiences during a historic time, providing me with insight into how a senior leader thinks. The Wartime Journals of Charles A. Lindbergh (1970) is just such a book. In it we can see… Read More »
[May 8, 2017] Those of us not adults on May 8, 1945 have no idea the rejoicing that took place on this date 72 years ago. Victory in Europe was achieved at enormous cost in lives; so much given the price paid is simply beyond human imagination. Yet when Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered, and later Imperial Japan, the… Read More »
[May 7, 2017] It comes with being a leader … eventually you’re going find yourself paying for the mistakes of other leaders. New leaders should get used to the idea and present themselves professionally so the least amount of damage is done to them, other leaders, and to their vocation. Practically, the best way to handle being blamed… Read More »
[May 6, 2017] On the afternoon of my first day in the U.S. Army I was taught to “salute all Officers” as a sign of respect. Earlier in the day, I had been told by one of senior sergeants that if we wanted respect, then we would have to earn it. At the time I didn’t put these… Read More »
[May 5, 2017] Timely and accurate decisions are the linchpin to any good organization. But making decisions, especially hard decisions, is not always easy or popular; moral courage is required. A general officer and mentor of mine once said that senior leaders often have to choose between two terrible alternatives; it comes with the territory of a leader. … Read More »
[May 3, 2017] Trick question! In this leadership blog post today I will answer this trick question and point out what the biggest impediment to leadership improvement is today. A goal we desire is to improve leadership at all levels of maturity. So, when is it best to start leadership training? Often we think of leadership training in… Read More »
[May 2, 2017] Leadership is difficult – senior leadership is very difficult – but our ability to handle those indomitable challenges that comes as a part of leadership is a measure of our strength of character. The University of California at Berkeley is both an organization that today faces great challenges and yet has historically been successful by… Read More »
[April 30, 2017] Winston Churchill once said that “the price of greatness is responsibility.” Of course it is. Not only do great leaders accept responsibility, they actively seek it out and are nourished by the challenges that a position of accountability and dependability brings. Leadership also means possessing the skills to fix specific responsibilities on others. Note that… Read More »