From Chapter 28: Mission Tactics Mission Tactics is a concept that works as well in business as it does in warfare. Most of the very best companies and teams use this...
Chapter 35: DetachmentLeaders must develop the ability to know when it is prudent to "step outside of the firefight" prior to making decisions.Trust-Based...
From Trust-Based Leadership™: Marine Corps Leadership Concepts for Today’s Business Leaders...The 3rd Law of Leadership:"The members of an organization will...
On this day in 1998, I retired from the Marine Corps. Since then, I have been able to work with some incredible people and help them achieve challenging goals. Over the...
Just finished reading this incredibly inspiring book. "Uncommon Bonds: A Journey in Optimism is an inspiring story of love, faith, strength and determination – and...
Chapter 34: Friction "As in warfare, every industry, profession, company, or team encounters two main types of friction: 1. External Friction These are things you have...
A Roman General was the subject of politically motivated criticism and second-guessing from those far removed from the battlefield. He essentially said, "You're welcome to...
During World War II, Americans were asked to make many sacrifices to contribute to the war effort. The Great Depression had taught people to do without and sacrificing...
We live in interesting times, to say the least! The senior leaders of many companies had the foresight to envision a scenario in which “remote operations” would...
Decisions are being made daily that will provide the grist for countless business school case studies that will show aspiring leaders the common denominators among...
Just finished this gem of a book by Jason Van Camp and Andy Symonds. It's a superb collection of leadership stories, anecdotes and lessons learned. If you're a fan of...
The members of an organization will not remember what their leaders said during the Coronavirus crisis, but they will remember what they did. Forever. A Leader's Actions...
The best leaders possess exceptional mental toughness and resilience. I study these qualities as much as I do leadership and management techniques, because without them,...
Most people actually enjoy working with leaders known for having high standards. Nobody enjoys working with leaders who are known to be what I refer to as "screamers and...
In 2001, Enron - a $64 Billion company - collapsed and essentially went bankrupt in 24 days. This was a case study in how unethical leaders can poison an entire...
Many new officers judge the worth of fellow Marines by their scores on the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). For various reasons, this is not a wise practice and I saw it as my...
As an executive coach, I offer these words of caution to my clients: “Beware of January 1st deadlines and implementations!” Executives often direct January...
Companies that dominate their industries have figured out that the fastest way to gain an advantage over the competition is to have a trained, cohesive and capable...
"1. Character and Integrity are non-negotiable." Wise executives know that a culture in which integrity is non-negotiable, and is demonstrated by all leaders, is the surest...
"While there are countless leadership axioms, sayings, quotes, etc. (many of which are mentioned in this book) that can add great value to your development as a leader, I...
Success breeds complacency when an organization is led by leaders who fail to anticipate the unanticipated. The best leaders join their teammates in contemplating and...
75 years ago today, 30,000 U.S. Marines landed on Iwo Jima, igniting one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Veterans of Iwo Jima were still serving when I enlisted...
On Time – Fully Prepared – Fully Engaged. This simple mantra communicated what was expected of every member of the publicly-traded Firm I served in for nearly...
It’s good to be known as a leader who leads by example and demands excellence from his team. It’s not good to be known as a leader who simply cannot be pleased....
Predictions for the future can be stimulating and challenging, especially when attempting to make strategic planning decisions. Our rapidly changing global environment...
In my role as an executive leadership coach, I routinely speak with senior leaders from a variety of industries. These men and women are often among the brightest and most...
This picture was taken in 1977 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. I was 20 years old and the youngest drill instructor in the Marine Corps at that...
Note: This article is based on a chapter in an upcoming book that will describe how I effectively utilized Marine Corps leadership concepts and techniques while...
American executives and other senior leaders are retiring en masse, creating unprecedented promotion opportunities over the next decade. Competition for thousands of...
One measure of an executive’s effectiveness is his or her ability to attract and hire talented and highly-capable people. Equally important is their ability to retain...
After a career in the Marine Corps that spanned more than two decades, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as a C-level executive in a publicly traded company for...
On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven, a Navy SEAL officer and the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony at...
Senior leaders are retiring at a rate that has made it impossible for companies across all industries to replace them with seasoned, trained and fully capable leaders. The...