In the days when I still wore a uniform, I was talking to another officer about the people who were under our command when he mentioned they represented a cross section of the country. As I reflected on that comment it occurred to me that it may have been true at the beginning …
Category Archive: Uncategorized
Nov 08 2013
Are There Really Born Leaders?
Send to Kindle“Born Leader.” Those two words always give me a chill. Two reasons. First, executives tend to look for who they think are, or who appears to be born with some sort of natural leadership talent. What they find are employees who are outgoing (extroverts) and charismatic. What they miss are employees who are …
Nov 06 2013
Leadership Reading – Part 1
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This is the first of a 4-part series on books I recommend for leaders. I have hundreds of books on my shelves and it’s really tough to pick just a few, but these will give you an idea of some good reads, and some good authors. There are plenty more good books out …
Nov 04 2013
4 Steps Leaders Must Follow to Start the Discussion
As I write this the U.S. government has recently gone back to work after allowing itself to be shutdown; well sort of. During that period and for the weeks after there has been no shortage of commentators to tell us whose fault all this is. After all, finger pointing is one of the …
Nov 01 2013
Strategic Planning and Leadership – The Critical Link
The small group of business owners were enjoying lunch and discussing the various issues that always affect business owners. In response to a question I mentioned the importance of a solid strategic plan. To illustrate how critical it was to have a good mission statement and to ensure everyone in the company understands …
Oct 30 2013
Leadership Development Training: Got Problems?
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One of the most important, but least understood skills for a leader is the ability to solve problems and make good decisions. The two skills are inextricably linked. Unfortunately, there a many experts who would have us believe that problem solving is a very complex procedure requiring special techniques and training. Not so! …
Oct 28 2013
The Motivation Puzzle: How The Pieces Fit Together
Installment number 4 of my series of motivation has been published in the ExtraMILE ezine. This one, “The Motivation Puzzle: How The Pieces Fit Together” presents a way leaders can achieve better results by helping workers achieve their motivations. Please check it out here. You can view previous editions of the ezine, including …
Oct 23 2013
Leadership Development Training: Theory and Styles
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Leadership is probably one of the most studied subjects ever. There are thousands of books on the subject with more published every year. Most of that information can be boiled down to a few important theories and models. New leaders need not become academics on the subject of leadership. As I said, much …
Oct 21 2013
4 Steps That Connect Leadership and Innovation
Send to Kindle I was talking to someone recently about my membership in the New Mexico Innovation Alliance when he asked, “How do you encourage innovation among employees. It’s a good question and one that leaders in all types of organizations should be asking themselves – what’s the link between leadership and innovation? The answer …
Oct 16 2013
Leadership Development Training: Communication
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.4MB)
How many times have you wished your boss would learn to communicate better? In a leadership position, communication becomes vitally important, both for conveying a message to workers, and passing information to the boss. To be effective, leaders must develop the ability to communicate with their followers, their peers, and their bosses. For …
