Author Archives: Douglas R. Satterfield
[September 05, 2014] Colin Powell is one of America’s most respected and esteemed public figures. He was one of the U.S. Army’s most senior generals and was also U.S. Secretary of State. Being successful at both is an admiral accomplishment. Choosing Colin Powell for this leadership profile was easy; writing about his leadership style was something more difficult.… Read More »
[September 04, 2014] Nothing is more important to humans when at work than the spoken word. It ensures good communication. When leaders talk, people listen and only by the speaking can a leader do those things required. The spoken word is like the oil that lubricates a machine; it allows the entire mechanism to function properly … like… Read More »
[September 04, 2014] One of the greatest disappointments in leadership comes about when those in senior positions fail to see a big problem as it occurs and then fail to take action when they do. This is what happened at Veterans Administrations hospitals across the United States when an audit revealed that “double books” were kept for veteran… Read More »
[September 03, 2014] Shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, an Iowa third-grade teacher did something remarkable. She gave her class an unforgettable lesson in discrimination. While this lesson is what we are most likely to see and appreciate, what we don’t see is behind the scenes in the moral courage of the teacher. Fortunately,… Read More »
[September 03, 2014] Happy “1st” Anniversary to the Leader Maker! And thanks to everyone who have made this senior leader blog a success. Most of all, thanks to all the readers from across the globe who read about the movement to make senior executive leadership better. From Google Analytics, readers of the Leader Maker are from over 50… Read More »
[September 02, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles than the concept of “battle hardened” troops. In most discussions about them people are saying how the battle-hardened troop is more effective at fighting, how they are calmer and composed in combat, and how they are courageous under fire. While there is some truth to… Read More »
[September 02, 2014] Fifty years ago today, in the Nashville Tennessee Veterans Hospital, Alvin York passed away and American lost a true hero. Nearly everyone has heard of him, often know also by his rank … Sergeant York, he was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for… Read More »
[September 01, 2014] Color photography was invented in the 19th Century, well prior to World War 1. Photography was still awkward in many ways. An action shot, as we know them, were unknown during the war and explains why there are so few that show combat. Color photos from that era were “colored” using a variety of techniques.1… Read More »
[September 01, 2014] It’s here … the last, long weekend to spend with friends this summer and the last weekend before school starts. Labor Day has arrived. There are parades, picnics, and parties … time to relax and remember family and friends. Yet, Labor Day’s activities are the result of long-fought battles over legislation to protect the American… Read More »
[August 31, 2014] It is often said that the performance of a leader in a garrison environment cannot predict how that leader will do in combat. This well-known rule of human performance has been recorded since the time of the Roman Empire. Under peaceful, less dangerous circumstances, the military leader has command priorities that differ from combat where… Read More »