Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[October 9, 2015] Suicide is a complex and difficult subject under the best of circumstances and thus how to respond can be challenging and frustrating. The U.S. military has done a good job helping reduce the incidence of suicide in its ranks but senior officials still fear the subject.1 Defying his fear, one man took on the task… Read More »
[October 8, 2015] As a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant of Infantry, I was assigned to a platoon that had been without an officer for over a year. Promises had been made to them and broken repeatedly. To say they were a little disillusioned over how they were treated by unit officers is an understatement. My senior Non-Commissioned Officer,… Read More »
[October 7, 2015] Don’t worry, I’m not about to get into a philosophical discussion on the fallibility and imperfections of humans here at theLeaderMaker.com. It is, however, one of my leadership blog themes that humans are imperfect and to reach our potential as leaders it’s necessary to understand the psychology of people and to have the social skills… Read More »
[October 6, 2015] Who hasn’t thought of how they would act when their life is in danger or someone else’s life, like a family member, is in danger? Fear is a natural reaction to danger. Would we be frozen incapable of acting from fear? Would we run away? Writings on how to be brave are uncommon but often… Read More »
[October 5, 2015] Russian leadership decided to increase their support for their ally Syria and President Bashar al-Assad and in doing so actively used their military in a more direct role. While few know the strategy of Russia, it’s sensible for them to keep it undisclosed, what is known is that their role is no longer to stand… Read More »
[October 4, 2015] Just 58 years ago today in 1957 the world entered the Space Age with the launch of the USSR satellite Sputnik 1. But the beginning of humankind’s curiosity about space dates back before recorded history; this being where any story of the new frontier of space begins. From Copernicus to von Braun, science led the… Read More »
[October 3, 2015] Since time immemorial there has been one effective act by leaders that has been so useful that its employment is considered an indispensable skill. The art of delivering a formal address in public is an ability considered a must have in the personal collection of the most successful leaders. It’s so important today that each… Read More »
[October 2, 2015] Autumn began a little over a week ago and now we’re feeling some of the cooler weather here in New York City. That means a little rain too and some time to pull a few of my “want to read” books offs my shelf for learning more about the art of leadership. A book I’ve… Read More »
[October 1, 2015] One of the lessons leaders quickly learn in the military is that leaders eat last. In truth this means that leaders forgo their personal interests to support the team. To say that leaders eat last is also symbolic of the notion that leaders accept their responsibility to assist people – who are part of their… Read More »
[September 30, 2015] In a previous post I listed the characteristics people like in a leader. What attracts people to a leader is of course no secret, but what is it that attracts leaders to other leaders? What leaders like in leaders, on the other hand, can be mysterious because so little is written about it. “Moral courage… Read More »