[June 21, 2018] We hear about it all the time and read it in every publication ever written about leadership … we are told that leaders must have a clear vision and be capable of communicating it. How leaders create a vision is, however, rarely discussed. I’ll make a case on how any leader, at any level, can… Read More »
[June 20, 2018] Occasionally we hear about crude leaders who are unsophisticated in what they say in front of people they lead. Crudeness is, of course, in the eye of the beholder but there is sufficient information to believe that many leaders are crude by exceeding social norms and are actually more successful in communicating their message. The… Read More »
[June 18, 2018] Just as I was headed out the door for a camping trip this past weekend with a group of Boy Scouts, I stumbled upon a Scouting.org page that listed ten tips for being a patrol leader. The first thing I thought was how much they paralleled what has been a constant theme here at theLeaderMaker.com… Read More »
[June 14, 2018] I’m taking a few minutes to remind everyone that today is Flag Day in the United States. Most folks here in the U.S. and abroad do not fully appreciate the association of our flag with patriotism and American values. But folks do acknowledge that today is important for our citizens who have remained free and… Read More »
[May 25, 2018] It wasn’t that long ago that opportunities for young adults in employment, education, and service to one’s country were available to all; no longer. Today, that means that when opportunity knocks … get moving through that door and take advantage of it. “When opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle, American comedian and… Read More »
[May 18, 2018] There is a lot to be said about military discipline and it is seen, often, as something both good and bad. What I have personally found is that most of the information I find on the subject is narrow and is not particularly helpful. Stereotypes and a great deal of erroneous information is out in… Read More »
[May 6, 2018] Wilson, a childhood friend of mine, was an exceptionally smart guy but he had a real dislike of people who would criticize him in any way. One of the more difficult things for anyone to do is to listen patiently to criticism about themselves. This is a tough one. Wilson is someone without much tolerance… Read More »
[May 2, 2018] Good decision making is not always easy and no one said being a leader was going to be a cake way anyway. Decision-making abilities are based on proper and independent judgment. “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” – Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll), English… Read More »
[April 18, 2018] At 5:13 am on this date, April 18, 1906, the city of San Francisco, California experienced a massive earthquake that was felt along nearly all of the West Coast. Massive fires then broke out threatening to kill thousands. The only way city leaders could control the problem was to think big, act quickly, and not… Read More »
[April 15, 2018] Early in my military career I learned about being brief and to the point. “Don’t waste people’s time,” was said about as often as we cleaned our rifles. I’m always looking for leadership methods I can put into my personal toolbox and the standup meeting is one of them. Also called morning roll-call or daily… Read More »