[March 9, 2016] One of the concerns about being a military engineer is that we can be intellectually trapped by our education and experiences. Yet, there are great engineers who’ve escaped and produced amazing works. They did this by developing a daily habit of being open to new ideas. We all have marveled at those who designed and… Read More »
[February 13, 2016] Having worked with military and civilian engineers nearly all my life, I can attest to the fact that perfection is one of their most important goals. Getting any calculation wrong can mean the difference in project failure or success … and that means a lot. Once I finished my first year in combat with military… Read More »
[December 27, 2015] The habit of treating all people like you would like to be treated is an adage that goes back before recorded history. It is the basis for all religions and for successful customer service in any business enterprise. Good habits for leaders also means taking the Golden Rule further and treating people like they would… Read More »
[December 19, 2015] … to be a great leader. A commander of mine a few years ago often developed new ideas, many of which were rarely acted upon. Innovative, creative, and intelligent leaders are rare and they play an important role, but it takes more than good ideas for a person to demonstrate great leadership that must be… Read More »
[December 18, 2015] As of this writing, there are several hot socio-political challenges – both nationally and internationally – that are worth a few words because they’ve put leaders under pressure to act correctly. Many leaders are being opposed by a swell of public opinion and with a hint of constituents’ anger.1 Of those, the great leaders will… Read More »
[December 6, 2015] Today Hanukkah begins at sundown and is celebrated starting on the 25th day of Kislev. Hanukkah means “dedication” and lasts eight successive days celebrating the rededication of the Jewish Temple following a victorious rebellion by the Jews against their oppressors. Leaders show wisdom and respect by recognizing holidays and special occasions that are meaningful and… Read More »
[November 30, 2015] An essential skill for leaders is a sense of humor. Humor is universal; it keeps everyone at ease, boosts engagement, and allows a leader to be more approachable and more effective. Comedians are like artists who use human psychology as a way to move people to laugh and be happier in the moment. Leaders can… Read More »
[November 1, 2015] All leaders will tell you they politely accept feedback on their performance and encourage people to share their opinions on their leadership capability. In practice however that is rarely true and therefore official systems have been developed as a required task to ensure feedback is given on a minimum regular schedule. True leaders, however, are… Read More »
[October 18, 2015] There are always generational differences. Those differences are more pronounced now than ever – at least it seems that way – and that is often credited with improving technology, medical advancements, and cultural change brought on by great movements of people. But do we really appreciate the differences between generations? I think yes and I… Read More »
[October 17, 2015] My maternal grandmother and parents spent much of their time educating me in the ways of the world. They taught me much about the fundamentals of leadership without it being called such and pushed me to be a real man by being responsible for my actions. But today we see less of this in our… Read More »