[April 27, 2015] Failure to recognize possible unintended consequences from decisions anticipated otherwise, is a failure of leadership. On this date in 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act; designed as an advantage to both the British Empire and the American Colonies. Unexpectedly, the American revolutionary leadership convinced other colonists that the Tea Act was another example… Read More »
[April 26, 2015] When we think of heroes from World War II, we immediately think of the Allied military men who risked their lives and endured great hardships to do something spectacular. Virginia Hall was a civilian working for both the British and American clandestine services; she was known to the Nazi Gestapo as “the woman with a… Read More »
[April 25, 2015] Five of us first-grade boys were chewing gum in class against the teacher’s rules. Our punishment was simple, public humiliation by wearing the gum on our nose (all day) and extra laps around the playground. Did we learn not to chew gum in class? … Yes we did. Fast forward 15 years and I’m wearing… Read More »
[April 24, 2015] One of the greater insights into management concepts over the past century was that rules cannot be created to cover everything in the workplace. The study of human psychology says that we all live and act according to values we hold most cherished. It follows logically that if we can clearly identify those the most… Read More »
[April 23, 2014] As leaders we often find it difficult to clearly communicate what tasks need to get done and with as few mistakes as possible. Surprised? Of course not. Leaders normally give good orders but fail to communicate plainly their intent and also fail to put it into the proper context so that an employee can carry… Read More »
[April 22, 2015] I’ve often been asked a basic question on leadership, “What is the most important leadership characteristic?” Of course there is no easy answer for the simple reason that no single characteristic can encompass all the necessary traits to make a great and successful leader. Regrettably, I was never able to give a response that I… Read More »
[April 20, 2015] Sports teach us many lessons in leadership and Sumo wrestling is one sport that is fundamental to understanding attributes of successful leaders as any other. Some sports teach us about manhood and the Japanese team game of the Sumo is one that requires its participants to be strong, dedicated, and respectful. In short, Sumo wrestling… Read More »
[April 19, 2015] Rewards for doing a good job at work come in many forms and are given when deserved in the best of organizations. Of course, no matter how good they may be, people make mistakes. In many workplaces where people are dominated by bosses, the only thing they look forward to is to get through the… Read More »
[April 18, 2015] I’ve personally known many military officers who have failed to make a smooth transition to civilian employment. Why is that? In Part 1 of this 2-part series I addressed those junior military officer mistakes made while serving in uniform. Part 2 is about junior officer mistakes when transitioning to and working in the civilian sector.… Read More »
[April 17, 2015] As new (and very young) Army Lieutenants, my cohort of peers did not take long to discover that only a small percentage of us were getting promoted. We didn’t know why at the time. Military officers, like many junior managers, do things or fail to do things that hold them back in their organizations. The… Read More »