The pictures speak for themselves.

I guest posted today in SuccessVets.com, “What You Thought Graduates of Elite Schools Have, But Probably Don’t.” I wrote the piece for service-members transitioning to civilian leadership, but it applies to many people who worry about competing with graduates of elite schools. The guest post begins: It’s easy to look at people who went to school while you served and think they’re ahead of you, which can cause anxiety. As[…] Keep reading →

Some teachers ask students to grade peers. Some ask for student input on grading. I go further. Radical self-grading I have students in my leadership courses grade themselves—not just give some input. They choose their grades. Moreover, I tell them that I will defend to the administration that they deserve them even if they all give themselves A’s. I also add that this loyalty and defense requires backup from them.[…] Keep reading →

In his recent post, “Make the Work Worth Doing,” Chris Lehmann, founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, lists questions tremendously useful for leaders or anyone who wants to engage others and create meaning in their work. His perspective reinforces how important how you lead or teach is compared to what you do or teach. If you think you can’t learn from a high school principal how to improve your[…] Keep reading →

When I was a kid, liberals boycotted for fairness and equality and football was violent. Now, (some) liberals call for violence (see video below) and football players boycott for fairness and equality, at least according to today’s headline: “Minnesota Football Players Pledge Boycott Over Teammates’ Suspensions.” Crazy Times. I’m not commenting on right, wrong, good, or bad. I have no inside information. I’m only commenting on people’s behavior, tactics, and[…] Keep reading →

The mainstream view of the leader is as the quarterback or command-and-control general. It’s changing, but those views seem the most common. Different models for leading work better for different situations. Alternative models that I find work more often are that The leader serves his or her followers, see “Lessons in leadership from Frances Hesselbein, part 1“ The leader is like a gardener, see “Jack Welch’s Gardening Model of Leadership“[…] Keep reading →

People generally have more motivations than you can sense from their behavior. The more you can sense their underlying motivations, which tend to be their stronger ones, the more you can connect with them as well as to lead them. The skill of sensing others’ emotions is called empathy, loosely speaking. I view empathy as a skill you can learn, like riding a bike. I came to view it that[…] Keep reading →