Don’t send me only those you have unilaterally deemed to be your “smartest” employees. I’m convinced most people are not qualified to make such an arrogant assessment. Send me the folks that, from your limited perspective and experience you have unilaterally – even disdainfully – labeled as your ‘slow learners.’ Send me your so-called ‘average’ employees. Send me your ‘C’… Read more →
When I say or write, “Happy Holidays” I sincerely extend these abiding wishes – reminders of lyrics of the heart – to everyone. They are the same wishes I extend to all others every day: May those of you who have strayed from the simplest of positive values – preferring to trifle in hatred of others – find happiness in… Read more →
You know I love you dearly … but, dang! After 30 years of working on your behalf, this must be said: I am keenly aware of and consistently learn more about my responsibilities in front of any room of guests in our academies. I consistently call on each participant – having memorized their names within the first hour of any… Read more →
STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE: 1. Strategic: Gk. strategia “office or command of a general,” from strategos “general,” 2. Advantage: O.Fr. avantage, from avant “before,” probably via an unrecorded L.L. *abantaticum, from L. abante Lao Tzu is credited with noting, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and he can eat for a… Read more →
After a couple of days, I guess I need to clarify that this story is not really about quilts or hamburgers … -s Let’s say you have an organization. Maybe some little quilt shop or a burger joint or, I dunno … a law enforcement agency or detention center or a 911 center. And let’s say that you think “minimum… Read more →
I don’t spend a lot of time with negative emotions. But, sometimes I wake up feeling sad. I feel sad because a bit of what is right about our Republic is being chipped away by what is wrong. When lies go unchallenged and become normalized, that is wrong. When emotions override facts, that is wrong. When myths and conspiracy theories… Read more →
For years I did a block of training on “How To Deal With A Disgruntled, Dysfunctional, Toxic Employee.” Then, at one point, it occurred to me that I was doing little more than trying to provide people with techniques for dealing with, tolerating, legitimizing and further enabling abusers. Yes, abusers. Those who who lie; blame others; demonstrate disdain for rules;… Read more →
All I wanted was a place where a sweet, bright, compassionate, curious, courteous little boy could go kick a soccer ball around with some other kids. So we looked at a local soccer club sanctioned by an apparently reputable national soccer organization. We paid a few hundred dollars and were quite excited. We suited and geared up. We had a… Read more →
On Memorial Day, 1998 – thirty years after I came home from Vietnam – I had the honor of being asked to speak to a few hundred Americans assembled on a parade ground. I was asked about what it was like “ … in those days …” As I look back at that speech I remain proud that I told… Read more →
We only have the past – and we have the future. I suggest that my friends, students and clients pick one … and stick with it. Most “strategic planning” in organizations consists of the periodic creation of a list of short-term projects upon which to spend The People’s money. That is neither “strategic” nor “planning.” As a nation we risk… Read more →
If you seek a leadership “position” or a leadership “title” because you want to be – or to be seen as – a leader you have missed the entire point. Inspiring others isn’t about us. It’s about them. It’s not about a title or a position or calling one’s self a “leader.” That is simply ego riding on the proverbial… Read more →
So long as law enforcement’s budget is in the “general fund” city councils, mayors, city administrators, county administrators, finance departments, county commissions and budget committees will continue to play political football with the highest and most consecrated obligation of government – the most precious benefit of civilization: public safety. I continue to hear LEOs up-and-down the chain-of-command in organizations across… Read more →
Just as I thought. That so-called, “de-fund the police movement” has not truly caught on. It was a flash-in-the-pan media-circus moment and many of my friends and clients fell for it. So, once again, a lot of anger and worry and angst and victim-think from chicken-littles and hand-wringers and pants-pissers wasted on reacting and emoting and feeling badly and lobbying… Read more →
First, a little Bedtime Story for all employees – particularly for those who might think this organization exists to give them a job: Once upon a time there was a magical place where ones continued employment and promotional opportunities were predicated upon their willingness to demonstrate more value-added in the workplace than the sum of the resources they consumed. The… Read more →
(Click on links within the text to read some of my related articles.) It could be the sunset for an industry … or the sunrise for a revitalized industry. Yet, unlike the timeless, unchanging behavior of celestial bodies, the future is all about choices, isn’t it? So, here you are – and, goodness, it isn’t like you haven’t been trying… Read more →
I am honored to know Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. He is dedicated to family, to his community and to his profession. When politics run roughshod over reason and integrity, when liars gain prominence and are obscenely blessed by the courts, when other elected and appointed officials stand by and do nothing … well, Sheriff Ozzie is the guy you want on… Read more →
One of the stupidest, most insidious, seemingly plausible things foisted upon employees and the public by too many Chiefs, Sheriffs, Colonels, County Commissioners, Legislators, City Councils, City Managers, County Administrators and Mayors across the United States is the notion of “do more with less.” What a stupid, stupid thing to believe and a stupid thing to say. It betrays an… Read more →
Recently a long-time friend retired as Chief of Police. After he had been at home for a few weeks, he called me. “Hi!” he said. “Greetings, my Friend!” I replied. “I need your help with a little thing. You see, I am increasingly concerned that my wife is going to kill me in my sleep.” “What?!!!” I responded, knowing his… Read more →
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