Beyond the Told

by Dr. David M Robertson

Tag: leadership

The Coming Battle for Core Values

What are your core values? Are you willing to defend them? Are you willing to change them if someone you trusted asked you to? Are you willing to compromise them for the sake of convenience or to avoid a fight? Let’s find out. If you have followed my work, you probably know that the ascent […]

The Dangers of Learned Helplessness

Learned helplessness is a condition in which an individual feels powerless to change or control their situation, even when opportunities for change are available. This phenomenon was first identified by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the late 1960s during experiments with dogs. The dogs were subjected to electric shocks from which they couldn’t […]

Leadership Lessons from the Middle East

In leadership, the ability to make informed decisions is crucial, as the repercussions of those decisions can ripple across generations. The ongoing challenges in the Middle East are a great example of what happens when leaders act without fully understanding the complexities of the situations they face. I would argue that the turmoil in this […]

Conservatives in Academia: Overcoming Irony

It seems tremendously silly to criticize the scarcity of conservatives in academia while simultaneously dissuading conservatives from pursuing the education necessary to attain such positions. What other outcome can you realistically expect? Of course, this paradoxical stance has significant implications for the academic landscape and the broader societal discourse. Conservatives would be wise to reconsider […]

When Empathy Inadvertently Becomes Sabotage

It seems that there has been an alarming and growing trend to emphasize perception-driven approaches, emotional responses, and leadership models such as servant leadership, which typically prioritize empathy and emotion over strategic foresight and critical analysis. While these methods appear well-intentioned, focusing on emotional connectivity, their overuse can literally sabotage long-term goals, organizational efficiency, and […]

The Value of Contrasting Information

Information is both abundant and easily accessible. Hence, the concept of “thinking for yourself” has gained new importance. Yet, at the same time, this idea is often misunderstood. Many people equate thinking independently with rejecting or avoiding information that doesn’t align with their existing beliefs. However, I would argue that true independent thinking requires engaging […]

The Puppet Masters of Collusion of Power

American politics is often painted as a battleground between the left and right, each side accusing the other of being the source of societal woes. However, in many ways, this dichotomy is really nothing short of a distraction from a more insidious alliance: the collusion between corrupt politicians, big banks, mega-corporations, and the institutions (and […]

Ghosting, Follow-Through, and Leadership

In my many years as a leadership strategist, I have found that two things can destroy a leader’s credibility faster than you can say “promotion denied.” These two cardinal sins are ghosting and a lack of follow-through. These leadership don’ts can significantly tarnish how others see you and are central to whether anyone can or […]

Epistemic Rigity from an Education POV

In our search for truth and accuracy, many individuals often find themselves hindered by cognitive biases that impede their ability to discard inaccurate information and progress their knowledge. I contend that if we can gain a deeper understanding of the obstacles to intellectual growth, we can also develop strategies to overcome them. So, today, I […]

Learning Keeps Your Brain Sharp

Our brains, like our muscles, require regular exercise to stay strong and healthy. Engaging in deliberate learning activities can significantly enhance brain function, keep the mind sharp, and prevent mental decline. Define irony in the idea that we live in an age where education is becoming less of a priority, our diet is worse than […]