It’s short. If offered properly, it sends a clear message. How, to whom, and when you use it are three essential factors in either its success or its failure. It should only be used after rational, reasonable, and will-intended thought. An essential part of that thought process must include its potential for both intended and…
Leaders who refuse to take ownership of their decisions, are not leaders at all. Whether they blame others, offer excuses, or ignore reality altogether, leaders who refuse to accept responsibility when a plan or an initiative fails, sacrifice significant organizational credibility. They do so because they have abdicated one of the most essential responsibilities of…
What do the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001, and the Covid Pandemic of 2020, all have in common? Before they happened, they were essentially unimaginable. They were each well beyond the norm. They were by their very nature something that challenged the lessons of experience and pushed the…
When leaders diminish or lose their intellectual vigor, their leadership potential is quickly and unquestionably compromised. In such a weakened state, their effectiveness and their career longevity are significantly reduced. Empowered leaders are life-long learners. Their intellectual curiosity is active. When it comes to their ongoing development, they are never lazy. They know that the…
Just because something is equal does not mean it is equitable in its intent, its impact, or its net effect. In fact, totally equal treatment of unequal people is generally inequitable. This very real state of disequilibrium between equality and equity has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time. By simple…
Abraham Lincoln may have said it best. He was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the General Assembly of Illinois, nearly three decades before he would be elected President of the United States. In concluding his first political campaign statement offered on March 9, 1832 to the people of Sangamon County, Illinois, he said,…
A significant element of leadership, regardless of the type of organization being led, is the process of developing reasonable assumptions. Rational assumptions set the stage for organizations to plan, prepare, and act or react in their best interests. Even though assumptions may later prove to be incorrect, they need not permanently weaken nor destroy an…
Generally speaking, optimism is a positive force. The same cannot be said for foolish optimism. The potential problems brought on by naïve, misguided happy talk are every real. Poorly informed leaders often share false optimism unwittingly because they don’t have reliable data. The blame can be theirs alone, or it can be credited to subordinates…
Opinions encourage and support the sharing of thoughts and ideas. They can evoke discussion, and they can encourage purposeful debate. There are times and situations when freewheeling thought, unfettered imagination, and outside-the-box thinking can and should be the order of the day. Such free and open expression based on unrestrained thinking often sets a grand…
In the best of times, there are villains. In the vilest of times, there are heroes. Stress, challenges, and difficulties, often bring out both the best and worst in people. As is true in literature, the story of humankind has its protagonists and its antagonists. These people have been, currently are, and will always be…