Leadership is a crucial aspect of any organization or community. It involves guiding, directing, and motivating others to achieve a common goal. However, not all leadership advice is created equal. Some advice, known as pseudo-leadership advice, can be detrimental to individuals and organizations. Pseudo-leadership advice can take many forms, from motivational quotes and slogans to … Read more
Pep Rally Leadership
There seem to be two basic approaches to leadership and its development. There is the “pep rally leadership” approach, and then there is the approach that utilizes the actual science of leadership. Understanding the difference is critical when choosing which road to go down, especially when either individual or organizational investments are on the line … Read more
Read Time:
12 Min
The Dunning-Kruger Danger
Confidence is essential for leaders. However, sometimes the level of that confidence is unwarranted. Moreover, such confidence becomes dangerous when the leader is unaware that such confidence is unwarranted. The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals with low levels of competence overestimate their abilities and underestimate the abilities of others. Sometimes labeled … Read more
Read Time:
9 Min
The REAL Che Guevara
A few years ago, I saw a video of a teacher’s union marching down the street. These teachers were protesting in support of higher wages. However, each teacher was wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. When asked why they wore the shirts, they could not fully explain it (Pundit, 2012). One teacher went as far as … Read more
Read Time:
40 Min
The Remarkable Leadership of Thomas Paine
A complete failure can change the world. Someone once perceived as a loser can inspire millions of people to do extraordinary things. Such was the reality of Thomas Paine. Today’s leaders have much to learn from Thomas Paine. Leaders would be wise to evaluate what allowed Paine to become such an effective change agent, considering … Read more
Read Time:
29 Min
The Party System: There is Another Way
Have you ever given any real thought to the party system? Have you ever wondered why things continue to get worse? A reader contacted me with the following. “I often wonder why, out of the 327 million people in America and the billions spent in Post-Secondary schools, you have the choices for president that you … Read more
Read Time:
25 Min
Does Money Make the Leader?
Recently, I was having a conversation about the making of great leaders. During that conversation, I was told: “I don’t have enough money to be a leader.” That comment confused me at first. It got me thinking about the prospect of “creating” a leader and whether money can play a part. While probably not the … Read more
Read Time:
9 Min
Organizational Development
Organizational Development is a complex endeavor, even for the smallest organizations. This is because there is much to consider as the organization grows and because new perspectives and considerations arise with each new change. Ultimately, there are several specific strengths and weaknesses that I feel an organization should be on the lookout for. The following … Read more
Read Time:
11 Min
Do Leaders Really Make a Difference?
I was recently asked, “Do you think that leaders really make a difference?” This is a great question, and while I would suggest that they do, I would challenge anyone to examine the why or why not before answering the original question. I think you might be surprised by what you discover, and doing so, … Read more
Read Time:
17 Min
Leadership Skills, Abilities and Followers
Scrolling through LinkedIn, I came across an article on leadership that posed the question of the meaning of leadership and some of the skills a leader might need. As a leadership professional, I often review opinions and perspectives. This is especially true when such articles are written by those who have not exactly studied leadership … Read more
Read Time:
14 Min