A Case Study in “Ends Don’t Justify Means”
As leadership is at its heart a “service”, then leaders have a responsibility to being ethical.
Everyone Can Be Proud of Something
The saddest people I’ve ever met were those who doubted their own self-worth. Sometimes, because of their own poor choices, but, more often, because another person had beaten them down, the person without self-esteem looks in the mirror and sees nothing of value. Experts on human behavior write volumes on how to increase our self-esteem […]
Wet Dog
Have you ever seen a dog shaking the water out of their coat? Most dogs really love the water, and they often come out smiling and soaked. If you’re too near them when they decide to dry themselves, you’ll end up as wet as they were! It’s an apt analogy to how we meet adversity […]
Who Do You Want to Be?
A vision of who we want to be is just as important as appropriate boundaries.
Dad’s “Sage” Advice for Freshman Success at College – 2020 Edition
It’s time for some fatherly advice for the new freshmen, this time with COVID in mind.
Remember Who You Work For
When someone asks a leader who they work for, the best answer is “I work for my team.” That’s obviously not a complete answer, but it speaks to a mindset. Leadership is service, and leaders who approach their roles with that mindset are more likely to be successful. It’s not the complete answer, of course, […]
Remembering 9/11 in 2020
A personal reflection of 9/11 nineteen years on
You Really Can Be Too Flat
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 […]
Sometimes You’re the Windshield, Sometimes You’re the Bug
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 […]
Look Outside the Tent
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 […]
Dad’s “Sage” Advice for Freshman Success at College – New & Improved
It’s time for some fatherly advice for the new freshmen!
Why You Need a Coach
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 […]
Swing Easy
Gripping the organization too tightly ensures you’ll miss the fairway.
Leaders Lead with Shared Purpose
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 […]
Who Do You Want to Be?
A vision of who we want to be is just as important as appropriate boundaries.
See, Now You’re Just Making Stuff Up
The “Silly Season” is no longer confined to August. That makes the leader’s job of setting the proper tone even more important.
Integrity Must be our Watchword
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 […]
Cooperate and Graduate
Cooperation is vital to success in any line of business.
First Line Leaders Get it Done
Strategy is fine, but if tactical leaders aren’t brought in the endeavor is doomed.
Respect for the Institution and Finding Earth
Respect for the institution means finding a way to help, or finding another institution.