The practical application of Leadership has little to no value to an organization unless it can be evaluated as effective. If you’re not bringing, adding, or creating value within the organization as a leader, you’re...
Category - From the Commander
Leadership Isn’t About Making Everyone Happy
At the end of the day, you won’t please everyone, but then again, that was never what it was all about in the first place. Going into leadership with the thought that it ever was, is a mistake. Let’s just re-read the...
“Success” is a Journey for the Out-of-Reach Bar
How do we measure achievement? When do we know that we have achieved success in life? How do we measure the value and worth of success? There seem to be many people out there who claim to have the answers to these types of...
Remembering the Past
It has been 14 years now since the events of 11 September 2001 occurred right before the eyes of the world. Over a decade at war ensued, and many have paid the ultimate price since that fateful day. Immediately following the...
Communication: The Key to Success
It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it… goes the old saying. And in considering the overall simplicity of this classic, we find a sense of remarkable depth and timelessness in its application to modern leadership...
Happy Independence Day – 4 July 2015
Many nations around the world celebrate the day they became Independent in one way or another. The holidays may take many shapes and forms, but one thing is for certain… they all have in common the struggle for a free...
Obama Administration Finally Realizes a Quick Pullout is Not a...
“After 2014, we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. If the Afghan government signs a security agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of Americans could remain in...
Be Explicit: An Effective Leadership Tool for an Ethical...
Let’s talk about Ethical Behavior, shall we? And in order to discuss the ethical behavior of professionals in the work place, we need to discuss creating an ethical culture. And in order to do that, we must identify any...
A discussion on Leadership Development as a Tool for Cultural...
“‘Cultural Imperialism’ in the United States, in Europe, and in other developed countries is strong. History, however, has shown that it is never sustainable in the long-term” (Moran, Harris & Moran, 2011, p...
Digital Communication Often Loses Context: A Challenge for...
Let us define the concept… It is no secret; the foundations of effective leadership practices lie in effective communication techniques. Today’s organizations are ever more increasingly expanding, and today’s leaders must...
The Effects of Politics on ROE: How Policy Actors Put Troops at...
There is a major controversy right now, sparked from within the United States Department of Defense. Service members, Veterans, lobbyists, and even the general public have been outraged over the sentencing of U.S. Army 1LT Clint...
Best First Impression Ever!
15AUG20XX Best First Impression Ever! By the time I realized I had to go pee so very bad, we were already over 20,000 feet in the air, well on our way towards the third world, old eastern bloc nation that was to be our home for...
Fall of the Wall, a Reflection of the End of the Cold War Era
President Jimmy Carter once said, “It is precisely because we have fundamental differences with the Soviet Union that we are determined to bring this dangerous element of our military competition under control.”[1] What he...
Gaining some Perspective
So… Just how does that picture make you feel? What kind of message did you get from it? Does it agree with your own thoughts? Do you have a different idea of what they might be saying? This is a quick exercise, and if...
Not Everyone Is Capable of “Service” – A...
Leaders are often thought of as those who are ahead of the pack, great individuals who are willing to step onto the battlefield first and leave last, and those who inspire others to action over a worthy and justifiable cause...
Cutting Through the Dust, Limitations in Perception
Let’s participate in some real-life research, shall we? Take a look at the following picture. WITHOUT doing a single internet search, read the following instructions: Print out the following picture. You have (1) minute...
Don’t Freak Out!
16FEB20XX Don’t Freak Out! Professionalism in aviation must stretch to every area, every aspect, every job, and every person. It is an inherently dangerous occupation, and requires a truly dedicated team to accomplish the...
Leadership Character
“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” — Gen. (ret.) H. Norman Schwarzkopf (22 August 1934 – 27 December 2012). Surely some of us have...
The Dangers of Habits
A Lesson on “Habits”… When I was still on Active Duty, I would teach my soldiers that “habits” are the most dangerous addictions of all. For your average, run of the mill human being, it only takes...
AJ’s 5 Goals for Organizational Leaders
As a professional soldier, I have had several primary jobs over the years, filled with increasing levels of responsibility with each position. During my 12 year career in the United States Armed Services I had some amazing...
We Choose Success, or We Choose Failure.
“Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of...
“Leader”, or “Effective Leader” –...
President Ronald Reagan ushered in a new age for the United States with his sweeping transformational economic and geopolitical changes. His vision for his presidency was simple, make government smaller, fight communism, and...
Does being a Manager make you a “Leader”?
Recently, a question was posed to me… “To be an effective manager, one must also be an effective leader; however, one can be an effective leader without necessarily being an effective manager.” Do you agree with this...