[June 23, 2019] Respect is a sticky concept; being something we all desperately want but also difficult to put our finger on. Like many who read this leadership blog, we know that humans seek specific things from our relationships. Respect is one of those intertwined with our likability, self-discipline, ability to compromise, and our concept of right and… Read More »
[May 6, 2019] Two things came together yesterday that got me to thinking about a post-modern rallying-cry of many young people today. Collective responsibility – individual responsibility for the actions of others – is not new but its application to a range of modern problems is now more noticeable. Earlier in the day, I was listening to a… Read More »
[April 8, 2019] When I was 5 (or maybe 6) years old, my parents gave me a toy pistol and holster set based on the television series Have Gun – Will Travel. Richard Boone starred as an Old West professional gunfighter called Paladin, in this series that ran from 1957 to 1963. I watched it with my family… Read More »
[March 23, 2019] In a speech after the brutal U.S. Civil War ended, Army General William Tecumseh Sherman said “I tell you, war is Hell.”1 He was a man who knew the viciousness of war and the terrible price people pay. But he was also adamant that when the going gets tough, character counts more than anything else.… Read More »
[March 4, 2019] Lately, I’ve been lucky. Several books have come across my desk and landed on my reading list that I truly liked. Books that make me think, give me pause, or reinforce those valuable contributions of leaders are worthy, and their value gives me a reason to write briefly about them. “Hal” Moore was a U.S.… Read More »
[February 6, 2019] Army Vet looks back on his recent experience with some American politicians in Washington D.C. and discusses his observations, surprises, and expectations … and a little secret. The Government owes you Nothing: I consider myself a fortunate person because I’m not just free to do as I wish but I’m also a FREE THINKER. Here’s… Read More »
[January 11, 2019] You don’t need a chest full of medals, possess a fabulous resume, or have a handsome face to have it. Command presence is a leader’s projection to everyone present of an advanced form of authority, trust, and respect. Often described as an allusive quality, command presence is plainly noticeable when you observe someone firmly in… Read More »
By guest blogger Sadako Red [see disclaimer] [January 9, 2019] Years ago Dr. Condoleezza Rice said something I never forgot. She said the “United States of America had made enormous progress in race relations, and it is still the best place on Earth to be a minority.” She is correct, of course, and I couldn’t have said it… Read More »
[November 29, 2018] Like many of my generation, I grew up hearing the phrase, ‘You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din!’ It comes from the 1890 poem by Rudyard Kipling; written from the point of view of an English soldier in India. Understanding the poem means the reader has learned that the character of a person… Read More »
[November 28, 2018] Many years ago I was writing one of my first evaluations of a junior officer. Before I started, my boss gave me some advice; “Don’t use words that are overtly critical. Use ‘bland’ language. We will know what it means.” In other words, in the military we use coded language that says one thing but… Read More »