That would be a “Denial of Service Attack on the Commander” were the words I heard from strategist when discussing how leaders in flat organizations can become overwhelmed. The world is enamored with “flat organizations,” and along with the organizational agility a flat organization brings, it also can breed organizational paralysis if the leader becomes […]
There’s a fun little song by recording artist Mary Chapin Carpenter called The Bug about how fortune can change quickly, using various funny lines like Sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger / Sometimes you’re the ball and One day you’re a diamond and then you’re a stone. It’s a humorous treatment of the human condition and […]
The command post was tense. It was pitch black inside and the inside was illuminated by a few red lights intended to maintain our night vision as we managed the battle raging outside. Our camp had 360 degree security, and I congratulated myself at having repulsed two assaults on the perimeter already. We’d correctly anticipated […]
It’s time for some fatherly advice for the new freshmen!
I’m taking the remainder of the summer off from blogging. In the mean time, please enjoy this “throwback” post from the archives. I need a coach. Anyone can trudge through a task or lesson on their own, but if I truly want to get better I’m in need of a coach. I’ve been an athlete […]
Gripping the organization too tightly ensures you’ll miss the fairway.
Why don’t my employees respond to my leadership? Why don’t their values align with the organization’s values? How do I get my organization to perform at the level I know they’re capable? Those are questions asked often by leaders in every industry and field. Everyone has walked into an office or production floor where […]
A vision of who we want to be is just as important as appropriate boundaries.
The “Silly Season” is no longer confined to August. That makes the leader’s job of setting the proper tone even more important.
We codify integrity in our organizational values. When we do that, we define what integrity looks like for ourselves and our professional community. Almost every profession has a professional code of ethics, and many firms as well. Honor Codes As professionals, we codify integrity in our organizational values. When we do that, we define what […]
Cooperation is vital to success in any line of business.
Strategy is fine, but if tactical leaders aren’t brought in the endeavor is doomed.
Respect for the institution means finding a way to help, or finding another institution.
Synchronizing the needs of all the stakeholders is vital to successful project management.
In the quote at left, Bell is actually paraphrasing St Luke’s Gospel where Jesus reminds his followers that trustworthiness doesn’t depend on the size of value of the task. This idea that a leader pays attention to details is the core around the concept of “Little Things Matter.” The task for the leader then, is […]
Sports is a great place to learn leadership
Sometimes leaders must deal with interpersonal conflict.
Objective truth exists – leaders need to know how to apply it.
Eat the sweet stuff of life and learn to spit out the seeds.
Gripping the organization too tightly ensures you’ll miss the fairway.