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 MoreShoes, eggs, coal and restless Arab states
Recent news stories coming out of China may give us some insights into the problems the Chinese government, at all levels, is having in a host of areas. Why are these issues important? Since China will be the most important country we will have to deal with in the future, the more we can learn about its people, its government, its economy, its military, its culture and its problems, the better....
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