[September 9, 2018] Leadership always means that the best leaders will set expectations and do so clearly and convincingly. They also set high standards in what they expect of others and manage those expectations carefully; for this is the only way to achieve long-term success. Leaders also hold others and themselves to those standards. By enforcing them they… Read More »
[September 8, 2018] A year ago I criticized U.S. policy on the use of Chemical Weapons by Syrian President Assad. Although he denied it, a red line was drawn by U.S. President Barack Obama.1 Confirmed by his Secretary of State John Kerry, he wrote in his new book Every Day Is Extra (2018) that Obama’s failure to enforce… Read More »
[September 7, 2018] A few days ago I got a call from an old friend who was recently promoted to CEO of a mid-sized manufacturing company in Indiana. He wanted me to read a short article by author Mike Myatt entitled 12 Ways to Spot Ineffective Leadership. My post today about poor leadership is partly based on his… Read More »
[September 6, 2018] A few years ago I met a young lady working in the IT field and who was unhappy but getting paid very well. She worked from home, got regular raises, but told me she didn’t want to be a “team leader” because she was sick a bunch. Disappointed, she quit and went to work elsewhere.… Read More »
[September 5, 2018] In my U.S. Army career, I had two commanders who were both smart and dedicated … yet each had a similar weakness. Like every high-level commander, they ran large and complex organizations where they listed important priorities. The problem was these two had too many priorities. “The bottom line is, when people are crystal clear… Read More »
[September 4, 2018] If you are a leader, then you are an ambassador to all organizations to which you belong. If you are dishonorable in your behavior, it reflects negatively on all those who are there. Senior academics in the last few days have pointed to the moral cowardice of Bess Marcus, Ph.D., Dean at Brown University School… Read More »
[September 3, 2018] In the United States, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. Like all successful nations, the U.S. built its foundation on Christianity and Capitalism. Despite the hardships of many, we recognize their hard work and patriotism. Ultimately this is why Labor Day was created. Whether it is a farm laborer,… Read More »
[September 3, 2018] Happy “5th” Anniversary to www.theLeaderMaker.com! As everyone knows who regularly reads my leader blog, I post daily on a topic of significance to those interested in improving their leadership skills. Never is there a shortage of topics. I still get suggestions from readers. Please continue to push them my way. Of some interest is a… Read More »
[September 2, 2018] A quick reminder that this clearing the spindle article, like the few I posted in the past, is about things I couldn’t get to in detail during the week. Today, I focus on the growing political incorrectness that is emerging in Western culture. U.S. Senator John McCain dies and deserves our respect. Mark Twain once… Read More »
[September 1, 2018] All serious leaders are relentlessly looking for ways to improve their ability in bringing people together for a common goal. One technique I’ve found valuable is the use of documented best practices. “Companies that model best practices, that model the most upstanding principles, end up as the most profitable. It’s not a trade of profits… Read More »