Publications

One of the most remarkable mentors I've had in my life was the late, Dr. Thomas Gordon, a man who promoted the skills of listening to levels never before seen in American culture.  He was, indeed, the Godfather of Listening.  Of course, listening was for decades (and still is) viewed by many with a jaundiced eye among leaders and managers since soldiers, workers, and peons did the listening while commanders commanded.  Many people in positions of power saw listening skills as … [Read more...] about Road Closed

Ed Deming, the godfather of business efficiency, once said, “He that would run his business on visible figures alone will soon have neither business nor visible figures to work with”. That's a surprising point of view by someone who created one of the most effective models of integrating statistics into business strategy. After all, aren't statisticians all about numbers? Ed Deming sure wasn't. In fact, after he was given the cold shoulder by the American auto industry, he was welcomed with … [Read more...] about Who IS On First?

I'm sure many Texans can recall the iconic, 60's era symbol “Onward: Thru the Fog” since it rather summed up the benign thought that though uncertain the future should be faced with confidence.  And maintaining some semblance of a sense of humor about the task sure goes a long way toward dealing with it as the image of Oat Willie so effectively illustrated.  In business as in life, change, uncertainty, and ambiguity are simple facts of life.  History is rife with tangible examples … [Read more...] about Onward Through the Storm

Thanks to an inspiring public school teacher I've had a lifelong passion for reading, and before she passed away years ago I had the opportunity to hug her and express to her my heartfelt thanks.  History in general has always intrigued me, and in particular for the last decade or so military history has salted my reading list.  Great lessons can be learned from studying the human behavior of people put through the refining fire of the crucible of combat whether they be in positions of … [Read more...] about Taking the Point

Conflict, confrontation, tension, and stress are unfortunately just inevitable aspects of life.  They happen, always have and always will.  And they happen at home, in our personal lives, at work, and even rear their ugly heads sometimes at play.  We don't have to cause them or even invite them, and neither do we have to go looking for them.  They will find us.  Often they find us when we least expect them, blindsiding us with no warning or notice.  And when we are … [Read more...] about Breaking the Circle of Strife

This end of the year edition offers a great opportunity to pause, rewind, and reengage.  And I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to share insights and experiences regarding interpersonal relationships, management skills, and team building.   What follows in no particular order are a few of what I believe to be essential and valuable resources which can enrich our lives and have a positive impact of the lives of others.  At the same time they can assist us … [Read more...] about First Things First