Five Unforgettable Professional Development Seminars and Keynotes
Bring the Lessons of History and Experience to 21st Century Organizations, Their Leaders, and Their Teams
Few events in history provide a more authentic setting for a study of leadership than the Battle of Gettysburg. For three days in July of 1863, more than 165,000 men were engaged in what became the turning point battle of the American Civil War. In human terms Gettysburg resulted in 51,000 casualties, making it the most costly single engagement of the war. The leadership lessons associated with the Gettysburg Campaign are as numerous as they are profound, and they are the basis for this keynote and seminar.
A study of this historic campaign produces abundant examples of strikingly simple and highly intricate leadership strategies and command decisions. There are stunning examples of successes and failures in the decision-making process, and a host of actions that serve as vivid illustrations of the consequences of effective and ineffective leadership initiatives. In 1863, the battlefield at Gettysburg was a crucible in which 19th century strategies of military, political, and interpersonal leadership were tested in the intense heat of battle. Today, that same field is a dramatically powerful backdrop for the study of leadership strategies and techniques employed in the Battle of Gettysburg, and a venue of unmatched historical relevance to examine the potential lessons for 21st century leaders. This seminar is offered on the field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Seminars can also be provided on your site using both historic and contemporary visuals, to bring the battlefield and the actions that took place there to life for your audience.
“Mark Twain is often credited with saying, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” That expression is illuminated in the seminars that Dr. McGough delivers. He deftly takes the lessons of history and helps leaders make the modern day application. Dr. McGough has worked with me and my Leadership Team for the past 10 years in a variety of ways. We have experienced all of Dr. McGough’s seminars and have conducted a book study using Personal Leadership: The Art of You Leading You. A day spent with Dr. McGough feels like reminiscing with a long-time friend. The seminars are conversational and the story telling engaging. Dr. McGough is a rare breed: an historian and an accomplished storyteller. The stories help the historical leadership lessons to stick with you. After each of our seminars with Dr. McGough I am amazed how many of the stories stick with me and my team. The lessons become a part of the team’s collective experience and pop up time and time again as we confront new leadership opportunities. Any one who spends a day with Dr. McGough will hear the rhymes of history in everyday decision-making and leadership.”
Dr. Scott Deisley
Superintendent
Since 1789, the President of the United States has been a key player on the world stage. Those who have held the highest office in the land have led the nation through both good times and bad, in war and peace, and through endless periods of growth and development. The basic outline for the presidency, found in Article II of the United States Constitution, created an executive branch that has endured through 45 unique and separate administrations.
Few leadership roles offer the enormous challenges and opportunities faced daily by the President of the United States. This keynote and seminar examines the personal, professional, and political dispositions of several of the 44 individuals who have held the highest office in the land. Historically focused attention is given to the broad leadership styles our presidents have brought to the office, as well as how those varied styles have affected their specific decision-making strategies. Notable presidential decisions and actions are used to illustrate leadership strategies and techniques that are poignantly applicable to 21st century leadership in virtually any field of endeavor.
September 11, 2001, not unlike December 7, 1941, is a date that will “. . . live in infamy.” The catastrophic events of 9/11 shocked the world and rocked the sensibility of the United States regarding global terrorism. The passengers and crew onboard United Fight 93 found themselves in a fatal struggle between good and evil. Knowing that they were to be sacrificed, they acted to prevent additional loss of life. One historian concluded that, “The crew and passengers of Flight 93, spared humankind from the impact of a conflict that could easily have become another world war.”
Leadership Under Fire: Lessons From Flight 93 affords participants the opportunity to look at critical aspects of Flight 93 on 9/11. These carefully selected pieces of the Flight 93 story are then examined to expose the leadership lessons they so richly illustrate. In addition, attention is given to attributes of strong leaders, the development of strategic leadership initiatives, and tactical actions to address strategies and fulfill missions.
Organizational leadership lessons explored during this seminar focus on such topics as:
– the role of imagination in thoughtful leadership,
– the potential impact of the human freewill factor,
– essential information dissemination protocols,
– and organizational empowerment throughout a chain of command.
“Our Team really enjoyed the sessions with Mike this Spring; he does an excellent job relating the leadership lessons from history to the challenges facing public school leaders. I would highly recommend Mike’s program: Leadership Under Fire: Lessons From Flight 93 and Personal Leadership: The Art of You Leading You for a team development experience.”
Jason C. Perrin, D.Ed.
Superintendent
The focus of this keynote and seminar is leadership at the personal, individual level. A frequently overlooked aspect of leadership is how leaders lead themselves. One of the critical attributes of most successful leaders is a skill set necessary to be a successfully personal leader. This keynote and seminar offers practical strategies and techniques to enhance personal leadership. The stark reality and undeniable truth of the relationship between personal leadership and personal well-being is clearly illustrated time and again throughout this seminar.
A single core belief is the base upon which this seminar rests. Simply stated, that belief is, “You are not the most powerful person in the world, but you are the most powerful person in your world!” Building on that simple belief, participants look at three critical aspects of their daily lives. These include: Interpersonal Relationships, Time Management, and Care of the Self. Throughout this interactive keynote and seminar, participants are challenged to look at these three aspects of life and consider the degree to which they currently engage in active personal leadership, and how they can enhance and expand their active personal leadership.
The strategies and techniques presented in this seminar are offered from a whole-person perspective. Understanding that a change in one aspect of a person’s life undoubtedly affects the others, participants are encouraged to consider all phases of their lives and recognize their interrelatedness. An understanding and appreciation for this perspective lies at the very heart of successful, long-term, personal leadership, and one’s ability to lead others.
“We had the pleasure of featuring Dr. Mike McGough at the Georgia School Boards Association’s GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference in December 2019. The audience of school board members, superintendents, and administrators were completely engaged throughout his presentation.
Dr. McGough delivered an impactful message to the members of Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) regarding personal leadership, team processes and enhancing workplace environments. Throughout his discussion, his experience as a teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent in the public schools of Pennsylvania, juxtaposed against successful historical leaders, gave the audience a witty and insightful look at how important leadership styles impact public education. Dr. McGough’s session was one of our highest rated sessions of the conference.
GSBA would absolutely engage him again to address our membership and looks forward to the opportunity to do so.”
Valarie Wilson
Executive Director