I have the privilege of presenting to the Indiana Rural Health Association's spring conference in early March. That's not unusual, I do a lot of presentations in such settings. The unusual thing is that my topic is "Generational Differences." I haven't done that yet as a presentation. This is the first time. You're probably like me. You've sat through a "generational difference" presentation … [Read more...]
February 15, 2011 by
February 11, 2011 by
I saw three layers of history at an event from which that I just returned. The Downtown Indianapolis Kiwanis Club conducted its 36th version of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Luncheon. Local high schools nominate deserving high school seniors who have overcome extraordinary obstacles to be successful and promising students. Each student had a stirring, emotional story to share. It was wonderful, … [Read more...]
February 10, 2011 by
I had a private session with a new client, the U.S. District Attorney's Office, Southern District Indiana. A group of very savvy officials with this office and their counterparts from several near-by states joined in the session. The topic was one of my favorites, the 1721 smallpox epidemic in Boston. The module involves the ebb-and-flow of four leaders during a six-month public emergency. Two … [Read more...]
February 8, 2011 by
Allow me to share with you one of the key points I'll be making in my presentation tomorrow on the 1721 smallpox epidemic in Boston. The audience, by the way, is a group of Justice Deparment officials from Indiana and surrounding states. The point I'll make is from 290 years ago but feels as fresh as this winter's sun. A best practice can, in some cases, be the first step toward an outdated … [Read more...]
February 8, 2011 by
Quite often after a session, I'm approached by a participant, or two or ten, who explains that they really aren't history buffs but still enjoyed the presentation and discussion. Today I had a realization--like them, I too had many negative experiences with history in classroom format. In eighth grade I argued with my history teacher about the information he was giving on the American … [Read more...]
February 7, 2011 by
Too often these days we engage in commodity conversations. A commodity conversation is one where two people meet and talk. One of the two people is a person with a clear need to ask or request something of the other person--maybe it's an introduction to someone else, a potential job opportunity, or another such thing. Whatever it is, the object has a fundamental theme: it will benefit the person … [Read more...]
February 4, 2011 by
In customizing my module on leadership in the 1721 smallpox epidemic in Boston, I came across a point that resonates ever deeply with me the more I think about it. It is this--there are some changes in direction so profound that they constitute a no-turning-back moment. You are presented with a situation and one particular choice you can make will certainly mean there is no turning back. Other … [Read more...]
February 4, 2011 by
Mother Teresa's life shows that success and sadness can co-exist. A leader can have a lot of success and still be unsettled, unfulfilled, and unhappy. That was the case for Teresa from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. When you see a successful leader, don't assume that they're happy. Conversely, don't believe that your future success is a guarantee of your future happiness. Learn from Teresa. … [Read more...]
February 2, 2011 by
· We see and hear the word “revolution” tossed around a lot. There’s the technology revolution, the information revolution, the sexual revolution, the Internet revolution, the social media revolution and on and on. You get the point. It’s too bad because that sort of inundation tends to make us numb to the real thing—when an actual revolution is at hand, as in Egypt, we dismiss or look … [Read more...]
February 2, 2011 by
I've been tracking events in Egypt recently. They've gotten me to thinking about one of my favorite historical topics and personal specialties--revolution. Leadership confronts very unique conditions and situations in revolution. One of them is the relationship between revolution and change. Today, we're pounded with messages that every change is a revolution. Not true at all. Sometimes, often … [Read more...]
