Belief drives behavior
Instruments of production or human beings who must produce? A leader’s beliefs regarding employees drives the leader’s behavior towards employees. Inherent in the belief that employees are human beings who must produce rather than simple instruments of production is the commitment to respect the dignity of those led. People will do stupid things, make bad decisions, and make mistakes. So will you. Learn from them and help others do so. In the rare situation when someone’s behavior violates ethics, integrity and demonstrates an unacceptable character flaw, get rid of them now....
read moreCommon Sense at the Crossroads
Leaders do what is right. Sometimes there are consequences that aren’t right. Courage to see what needs to be done, take action and be accountable for that action regardless of the stupidity that may attack that action or outcome is character. It is not a characteristic that exists based on title or position. Pal David was an elementary school principal in a rural community many years back. One of his school buses broke down, in the road, on a dangerous curve, near the school. The driver’s capability was limited. The principal was called. While not licensed to drive a school bus,...
read moreIt’s 2012 – Time to Stop Kicking the Dog
Results through others – it is a simple concept of few words. It ought to be easier and more satisfying. Yet the inherent challenges cause both metaphorical and literal dogs to get kicked daily. Some call it leadership. Some call it management. It is a unique alchemy that moves seamlessly from one to the other at any point in time on any day. Some believe that at a granular level, leadership is about people and management about stuff. To achieve results through others requires both. I like the term Leader as the catchall word to define the work of being the person in charge, the boss, the...
read moreArch Day 2011
Seventy years ago Dad was seriously wounded in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Another sailor, Tommy Thompson saved his life that day. He recovered and went on to fight the air war in the Pacific aboard PBY’s as a Crew Chief. His war time experiences did not totally define him but they were a big part of who he was. He has been gone for nine years. He always recognized December 7th and I learned to also. Dad was fiercely independent so he became an entrepreneur. He started three businesses one of which has been operating for forty years now and is still in the family. There were things...
read moreBoomtown #2 – A Different Work Ethic
Day labor is a way of living for some people. While in Minot and Williston, North Dakota I talked one morning with some good people who manage Command Center Staffing. They dispatch around 100 people a day to a variety of service and labor positions where employers need a worker or more for a day or more, but not permanently. These people work when they want to or need to. Some want a permanent job and some don’t. Some get permanent jobs. Some don’t. Some have the characteristics of a solid permanent employee. Some don’t. I heard the story of an 11 year old girl who...
read moreBoomtown #1
Bakken Shale – Williston, North Dakota - Boomtown. You’ve read about it in WSJ, Seen it on CNN. and in National Geographic. It is a “Eureka” sort of reality for hearty souls and pioneering entrepreneurs. Together with similar geology in Pennsylvania and Texas, a part of the solution to US dependence on foreign oil even though some environmentalists beg to differ. For laborers and skilled trades people it is opportunity to work for crazy wages. Three weeks on and a week off. Straight time $60/hr for a Cat operator. New man camps are being set-up daily with mobile...
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