A Dog-Spider Prank

By | September 6, 2014

[September 06, 2014] I don’t normally post about pranks but this one by a Polish man was just too good to pass up. A pooch was dressed up in a fur costume to resemble a large spider. Scenes were staged and when people opened doors, elevators, etc., the pooch would run to them. The immediate human reaction to… Read More »

Leadership: A European Political Movement

By | September 6, 2014

[September 06, 2014] Europe is undergoing political movement that has been largely ignored in the United States’ press. The U.S. press does this to Europe now and again. Yet, Europe changes its political landscape rather routinely and has done so since the end of the Dark Ages. Political evolution is often not recognized for what it is until… Read More »

World War One: Battle of the Marne

By | September 5, 2014

[September 05, 2014] Exactly 100 years ago today, began what is considered one of the most decisive battles in history. The Battle of the Marne was France’s counteroffensive to prevent the Germans from capturing Paris. Luck would have it that the commander of the French army would discover the German’s offensive plans when they were retrieved from the… Read More »

Profile: Colin Powell

By | September 5, 2014

[September 05, 2014] Colin Powell is one of America’s most respected and esteemed public figures. He was one of the U.S. Army’s most senior generals and was also U.S. Secretary of State. Being successful at both is an admiral accomplishment. Choosing Colin Powell for this leadership profile was easy; writing about his leadership style was something more difficult.… Read More »

Communication: The Spoken Word

By | September 4, 2014

[September 04, 2014] Nothing is more important to humans when at work than the spoken word. It ensures good communication. When leaders talk, people listen and only by the speaking can a leader do those things required. The spoken word is like the oil that lubricates a machine; it allows the entire mechanism to function properly … like… Read More »

Political Correctness and Failed Leadership

By | September 4, 2014

[September 04, 2014] One of the greatest disappointments in leadership comes about when those in senior positions fail to see a big problem as it occurs and then fail to take action when they do. This is what happened at Veterans Administrations hospitals across the United States when an audit revealed that “double books” were kept for veteran… Read More »

Moral Courage: Eye of the Storm

By | September 3, 2014

[September 03, 2014] Shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, an Iowa third-grade teacher did something remarkable. She gave her class an unforgettable lesson in discrimination. While this lesson is what we are most likely to see and appreciate, what we don’t see is behind the scenes in the moral courage of the teacher. Fortunately,… Read More »

Happy Anniversary: the Leader Maker

By | September 3, 2014

[September 03, 2014] Happy “1st” Anniversary to the Leader Maker! And thanks to everyone who have made this senior leader blog a success. Most of all, thanks to all the readers from across the globe who read about the movement to make senior executive leadership better. From Google Analytics, readers of the Leader Maker are from over 50… Read More »

Battle-Hardened Troops: Who are They?

By | September 2, 2014

[September 02, 2014] There are few things more confusing in military debate circles than the concept of “battle hardened” troops. In most discussions about them people are saying how the battle-hardened troop is more effective at fighting, how they are calmer and composed in combat, and how they are courageous under fire. While there is some truth to… Read More »

Hero: Alvin York

By | September 2, 2014

[September 02, 2014] Fifty years ago today, in the Nashville Tennessee Veterans Hospital, Alvin York passed away and American lost a true hero. Nearly everyone has heard of him, often know also by his rank … Sergeant York, he was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for… Read More »