Etiqueta: Danerwin.typepad.com

President Truman vs. MacArthur: President Obama vs. McChrystal?

Reading about General McChrystal’s lack of political smarts, I could not but think of the dustup between Truman and MacArthur. The issues were largely different, but in one sense, identical. In 1950–’51, the Korean war, though boldly begun, had degenerated into a bloody stalemate. General MacArthur wanted to carry the war to China, and made his passionate recommendations very public, against the stated policy of the President. MacArthur was the leading military figure of the nation. As Walter Karp has written…


Reading about General McChrystal’s lack of political smarts, I could not but think of the dustup between Truman and MacArthur. The issues were largely different, but in one sense, identical.  In 1950–’51, the Korean war, though boldly begun, had degenerated into a bloody stalemate.  General MacArthur wanted to carry the war to China, and made his passionate recommendations very public, against the stated policy of the President.  MacArthur was the leading military figure of the nation.  As Walter Karp has written… Leer más “President Truman vs. MacArthur: President Obama vs. McChrystal?”

6 Steps for Women Who Deserve a Raise

Although I’ve consulted to numerous female execs over the years, a dozen or so years ago, one client from among the top paid executives in America was especially instructive about the issue of male consultants working for female execs. I asked her why she wanted to work with a man. Her response? “The image of me working with a male consultant has much more cachet than working with a woman.” I hope that by now that has changed. Of course, she tossed me a bone: “Besides, you’re more knowledgable than any women I know in the consulting business.”


One of the continuing inequities in the American workforce is the paygap between women and men.  Even though women, on average, tend to be better educated than men, those women who work full time only earn about 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.

FYI: To my amusement I’ve learned that a few women get frustrated by a man writing about this, but I have plenty of reasons, not least, three daughters and a wife, who are professionals.  At different times in their marriage all four made more than their husbands.  (Furthermore, it’s important to take truth wherever you can get it.) Leer más “6 Steps for Women Who Deserve a Raise”

14 Intelligent Behaviors

There’s nothing new about companies wanting to find and keep the best talent. The East India Company which was founded in 1600, actually used competitive examinations to recruit alpha minds. The company’s employees included James and John Stuart Mill, two of greatest minds.

Today something new is in the air. Companies have become more preoccupied with talent than ever before. And even companies in more ordinary businesses have begun to think they cannot manage and compete without a lot of deep smarts.


Rendering of human brain.
Image via Wikipedia

There’s nothing new about companies wanting to find and keep the best talent.  The East India Company which was founded in 1600, actually used competitive examinations to recruit alpha minds.  The company’s employees included James and John Stuart Mill, two of greatest minds.

Today something new is in the air.  Companies have become more preoccupied with talent than ever before.  And even companies in more ordinary businesses have begun to think they cannot manage and compete without a lot of deep smarts. Leer más “14 Intelligent Behaviors”

Do Job Hoppers Really Make the Best Employees? Penelope Trunk Thinks So.

In the 20th century one thing you didn’t want was a reputation as a job hopper. But in the 21st century? Penelope Trunk says it’s a different story. In a blog called Why Job Hoppers Make the Best Employees, she points to the statistics that tell us that people in their 20s change jobs approximately every 18 months. And people in their 30s change jobs frequently as well, although at a slower pace than the Gen-Yers. [Más…]

But let’s reframe this old issue. Job hoppers are not quitters, nor are they merely opportunists. Penelope argues that job-hoppers make better employees and are generally more satisfied with their work life. So if you think job-hopping is bad stuff, change your thinking.


In the 20th century one thing you didn’t want was a reputation as a job hopper.  But in the 21st century?  Penelope Trunk says it’s a different story.  In a blog called Why Job Hoppers Make the Best Employees, she points to the statistics that tell  us that people in their 20s change jobs approximately every 18 months.  And people in their 30s change jobs frequently as well, although at a slower pace than the Gen-Yers. Leer más “Do Job Hoppers Really Make the Best Employees? Penelope Trunk Thinks So.”

7 Behaviors That Keep Women From Getting Ahead

On numerous occasions over the years, I’ve coached women managers and execs. Recently, while going through my file on influence management, I stumbled on an old article by Mary Ellen Drummond entitled, Seven Things We Do That Keep Us From Getting Ahead, from a now defunct (?) magazine called Women Managers. Although these recommendations don’t apply to a few female execs that I’ve worked with, they certainly apply to a large number. [Más…]

Drummond doesn’t mention the basis for her conclusions, but because of my studies in nonverbal research I’m well aware that a number of the recommendations have a research basis. This information seems to go in cycles in business circles, but I’ve seen a number of recent articles on personal presentation. I’m also aware that the top business schools, including Booth, Kellogg, Harvard and Stanford give time in their program for personal presentation, usually in leadership development programs that focus on interpersonal communication.


On numerous occasions over the years, I’ve coached women managers and execs.  Recently, while going through my file on influence management, I stumbled on an old article by Mary Ellen Drummond entitled, Seven Things We Do That Keep Us From Getting Ahead, from a now defunct (?) magazine called Women Managers.  Although these recommendations don’t apply to a few female execs that I’ve worked with, they certainly apply to a large number.   Leer más “7 Behaviors That Keep Women From Getting Ahead”