[December 30, 2014] A powerful debate has been ongoing whether the sense of duty in leaders has been on the decline … or not. Recently I was involved in a lengthy conversation with senior military officers and business leaders on this topic. The common thinking is that our sense of duty is indeed slipping. Our military and business… Read More »
[December 29, 2014] A movement, based on the idea that children should not be protected from everything imaginable, is beginning to make some headway in Canada and the United States. They say overprotective parents are preventing their kids from developing into well-balanced adults. Called Free Range Kids, children are allowed to be more independent, gaining resilience and critical… Read More »
[December 28, 2014] As part of the tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of World War I, we are recognizing U.S. Marine Sergeant Dan Daly. Sergeant Daly is notable because he entered WWI already having received the Medal of Honor twice. The bravery of Daly during his military service is awe inspiring and he is a… Read More »
[December 27, 2014] It is actually easy to point out the mistakes of senior leaders because of their visibility. With a multitude of mass media outlets, the venues to read or see the spoken and written word of leaders are easily available. More difficult to find is good commentary from those very same leaders. Pope Francis is one… Read More »
[December 26, 2014] Kick the tires – idiom – meaning “to inspect something to ensure it meets expected standards or has favored characteristics, typically before committing to purchasing or otherwise selecting it.” It no longer means to literally inspect a vehicle’s tires for defects. Effective leaders kick the tires to ensure their organization remains in good working order.… Read More »
[December 25, 2014] In a lonely field near the Baghdad International Airport in December of 2010, I found myself handing out gifts to young Iraqi children. The area was under heavy guard by a variety of Iraqi and U.S. troops but the children were excited beyond comprehension. They knew of a gentleman called “Saint Nick” and his bag… Read More »
[December 24, 2014] Exactly a decade ago on Christmas Eve 2004, a little east of Baghdad Iraq, there were handful of U.S. Army Engineers sitting with me; all inside a small, lonely Combat Outpost far from any large troop base, eating a hot meal of turkey and dressing. With their Infantry brethren from the 1st Brigade Combat Team… Read More »
[December 23, 2014] When leaders speak and take action, it is imperative that it is done so in a clear, concise, and vigorous manner. On important issues, where there is room to be misunderstood or for distorting what is said, this is even more vital. Leaders must have unequivocal clarity in communication. Failure to do so will produce… Read More »
[December 22, 2014] As we approach the end of the year, we would be doing the right thing by honoring those in our military who currently serve and have served our country. To these men and women serving away from home, protecting us, we can freely acknowledge they are doing us proud. While this is a common sentiment,… Read More »
[December 21, 2014] In my many travels throughout the country of Iraq, I talked to many Iraqis from all levels of their society. Most importantly, I listened sympathetically to what they had to say. In their culture they were often very loyal to their tribe, regardless of religious origin. I also understood how much the culture of our… Read More »