[September 21, 2013] While myths about senior executive leaders have been published, they are not widely known. The fundamental reason to list these reasons here is twofold. First, it makes the senior leader more aware of perceptions that may impede organizational success. Second, junior leaders, by learning about them, might not be held back by their own misconceptions. … Read More »
[September 20, 2013] Taking care of employees can mean many things but what it should mean is that employee opportunities to succeed are in place. The work environment and organization culture must be one that maximizes individual employee success. People do work for money but there are other important reasons. Research has shown that many times pay is… Read More »
[September 19, 2013] Major General Joe Robies, Jr., the president and CEO of USAA, wrote about “getting on plan” in the Fall 2013 USAA insurance magazine. He was giving good advice to USAA members to establish a financial retirement plan and get on it. Of course, we all will agree with MG Robies. We can carry his idea… Read More »
[September 19, 2013] Senior executive leaders recognize that values1 held by people will be one of the factors that determine the success or failure of that employee and of that organization. In today’s work environment, it is no longer politically correct to enquire about personal values. This is unfortunate because there are values that directly contribute to a… Read More »
[September 18, 2013] He who defends everywhere, defends nowhere. – Sun Tzu The senior executive leader is personally responsible to ensure that an effective strategy1 is developed and that their organization is properly guided along a path to achieve its objectives and goals. Without a strategy, there is no map for this journey. What does strategy allow us… Read More »
[September 17, 2013] This afternoon, I’ll be adding two books that I found interesting: How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. John C. Maxwell. In Maxwell’s 2009 book, he says “Good thinkers are in demand. A person who knows how may always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be his… Read More »
[September 17, 2013] Known as the Battle of Antietam (or alternatively as the Battle of Sharpsburg), this was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. It is the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing on both sides combined. The Battle of Antietam ended the… Read More »
[September 17, 2013] One of the key attributes of senior executive leaders is their ability to select the right people for the right job. Unfortunately, sometimes people are chosen even to be senior leaders who turn out to be stunning failures. Choosing leaders is not just a difficult task, but new senior executive leaders should quickly establish their… Read More »
[September 16, 2013] Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life – all areas of life. The really good news is that anyone can develop both honesty and integrity. – Zig Ziglar, author, motivational speaker, salesman. There is a short-list of values that are essential to all leaders. One of the most important among them is… Read More »
[September 15, 2013] As part of this blog’s profiles in senior executive leadership, the first great leader will be an obvious choice: General Douglas MacArthur. William Manchester writes of General MacArthur that: He was a great thundering paradox of a man, noble, and ignoble, inspiring and outrageous, arrogant and shy, the best of men and the worst of… Read More »