[June 11, 2017] Most people have a pretty good idea what leadership is about; they know it when they see it and know when it is missing or misused. Political leadership, despite what we’ve seen in the news, is not that different than leadership in any other institution. Some experts tell us that political leadership – as distinct… Read More »
[June 10, 2017] An older gentleman I met earlier this year asked me to look at a book of his dated 1944-1946. Upon opening it I was expecting to see journal entries about the war and occupation of Europe; those things that those men wrote who survived the crucible of combat, its exhilaration and its horror. What I… Read More »
[June 9, 2017] My grandmother was fond of telling me to “try new things;” otherwise I “would live to regret my life.” She was right and had put her mind onto something few think about and that is concerning risks as essential for those who successfully lead ourselves to do good things. One powerful trait appears in all… Read More »
[June 8, 2017] United Kingdom Imams have refused to perform funeral rites for the three Muslims who perpetrated the London terror attacks this past weekend. For those unfamiliar with the Islamic faith, this refusal is unprecedented. Furthermore, a number of Imams have publically called for other religious leaders to join them. “If you choose the path of terror,… Read More »
[June 6, 2017] When Lieutenant Shawn McFarland began his career as a young officer at Fort Polk, Louisiana, he was a mess; often failed to complete his assignments and tasks given him by his commanding officer. His commander once wrote in an annual evaluation that McFarland was untrustworthy and unrealizable. Like McFarland there are a small number in… Read More »
[June 5, 2017] A few days ago I turned old enough to qualify for Medicare and to be given a discount at my local grocery and liquor stores. Alas, most people are not interested in the saga of aging and so be it to me to buck that trend. But if I were young again there are five… Read More »
[June 3, 2017] In December last year I profiled U.S. Army General Raymond Odierno. Senior military Flag Officers in the U.S. are similar in many of their key traits, but also differ significantly in other areas of leadership. One that differs is James Mattis, retired U.S. Marine four-star general and current Secretary of Defense under U.S. President Donald… Read More »
[April 2, 2017] In Part 1 the strategy of thinking (an analytical tool) was introduced; a technique to help us get our thoughts in order. Teaching young leaders how to think is the beginning for them to learn to advance in a complex and competitive world. It is something they can use, modify to suit their needs, and… Read More »
[June 1, 2017] Young leaders often find themselves making poor decisions and involved in situations in which they are unprepared. Often, the root cause is their lack of education on how to think successfully. Teaching young leaders how to think is one of the ways senior leaders can help them. It took me joining the U.S. Army and… Read More »
[May 31, 2017] “Get your act together, boy!” This is how my grandmother would admonish me after I screwed up something important; to get my attention and to put me on the right path to manhood. And it now looks like the Iraqi military is about to get their act together to destroy the remaining elements of ISIS… Read More »