Strategic planning is an indispensable component of leadership
Two of my life’s great pleasures are sharing experiences with long-range planning and helping leaders reach into the future in a systematic way. Here are a few highlights from a workshop that will be conducted this week. First on the future: • Leaders should spend an hour or two each month reaching out at least five years into the future. If they do so, they are likely to see opportunities long...
Read MoreBeat the July heat
(Published June 30, 2012 in the Augusta Chronicle) The welcome mild weather of June is over, and the full heat of summer has arrived. This is the time to look for cool places to spend interesting and uplifting hours. Here are some suggestions. ALTHOUGH THE Augusta Museum of History is normally closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it will be open every day this week, including the Fourth of...
Read MoreRemember our fallen heroes
Some of the most humble people in America are our Medal of Honor recipients. When asked about this iconic medal, they often state that they don’t wear the medal for themselves – they wear it for those who never returned from combat. Next weekend, we all have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the great sacrifices that so many made in the service of their country. Memorial Day has been a...
Read MoreTo cultivate leadership, we can learn a lot from the miltary
One of my great privileges in recent years has been conducting leadership workshops for military audiences – officer groups, enlisted groups and groups that are mixtures of both. At these workshops, the question is often asked, “What are the key differences between leadership in the military and leadership in the civilian world?” Here are some perspectives. Military professionals get so many...
Read MoreWhither American power?
Once again on July 4 we celebrate the anniversary of the creation of the great experiment known as the United States of America. At this time it might be useful to take a step back and analyze our multidimensional nation of 310 million people and where it might be headed. A number of pundits and historians have concluded that the 70-year period of American predominance in world affairs is coming...
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