Characteristic #12: Mentor Programs (Part 2)

By | September 23, 2013

[September 23, 2013]  As noted before (Characteristic #11), senior executive leaders provide value to other leaders in a variety of ways.  One way to do this is to articulate those things that you see as elements for a successful junior leader (the “66 essentials”).  Another way is to ensure that there is a functioning and effective mentorship program… Read More »

Characteristic #11: Mentor Essentials (Part 1)

By | September 23, 2013

[September 23, 2013]  66 Essentials to be a Successful Junior Leader.  Senior executive leaders provide value to other leaders in a variety of ways.  Be available to teach, coach, and mentor those leaders working for you.  One way to do this is to articulate those things that you see as elements for a successful junior leader.  Future blog… Read More »

Profile: Lady Margaret Thatcher

By | September 22, 2013

[September 22, 2013]  The Right Honorable Baroness Margaret Hilda Thatcher, a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.  A Soviet journalist once called her the “Iron Lady”, a nickname that became associated with her leadership style.  When she became leader of the Conservative Party in 1975, Britain was on the… Read More »

Myths about Senior Executive Leaders

By | September 21, 2013

[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 »

Characteristic #10: Take Care of Employees

By | September 20, 2013

[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 »

Getting on Plan

By | September 19, 2013

[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 »

Characteristic #9: The Right Values

By | September 19, 2013

[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 »

Characteristic #8: Developing Strategy

By | September 18, 2013

[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 »

Professional Reading List (Update)

By | September 17, 2013

[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 »

Battle of Antietam: September 17, 1862

By | September 17, 2013

[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 »