“They cleaned it out,” one official said. “Can you imagine what’s on Osama bin Laden’s hard drive?”
Read the rest here.
Monday, May 02, 2011
The Call Screener
SemiSilent only rings through the calls you want to take. The others go to voicemail.
FutureLawyer has the details.
FutureLawyer has the details.
Many Thanks
The flood of analysis is inevitable but it is highly appropriate to thank President Obama, the intelligence professionals, and the military for ordering and executing a highly successful mission to remove one of the world's truly evil men.
So many things can go wrong with such plans. Courage and skill won the day.
So many things can go wrong with such plans. Courage and skill won the day.
Gaining Buy-In
Whether leadership is conducting a symphony orchestra or leading a jazz quartet - and those are two famous descriptions of the job of a leader - the leader needs to guide while not creating dependency or squelching talent. This is especially difficult for the leader who has strong beliefs about the right approach. In a crisis where time is scarce, the leader may have to be autocratic and stow collegiality.
At other times, however, it is important for the leader to gain "buy-in" from the team. Skeptics may say that can be coerced. Their observation is true up to a point but it is at that point that plans can be weakened and even killed. There are many ways in which associates can delay, modify, and divert the course of a decision with which they disagree. Furthermore, decisions that are crammed down the throats of the team create resentment and rebellion.
Merely going through the motions of consultation is not enough. Such hollow efforts are easily spotted and only fuel dissent and distrust. That said, consultation does not mean abdication. The leader may get the input and still decide on the original proposed course of action. The key to gaining buy-in and support is trust. If the consultation was genuine and the leader is competent, the threshold of trust will have been met. A team that exemplifies professionalism will then embrace the proposal as theirs as well as the leader's.
At other times, however, it is important for the leader to gain "buy-in" from the team. Skeptics may say that can be coerced. Their observation is true up to a point but it is at that point that plans can be weakened and even killed. There are many ways in which associates can delay, modify, and divert the course of a decision with which they disagree. Furthermore, decisions that are crammed down the throats of the team create resentment and rebellion.
Merely going through the motions of consultation is not enough. Such hollow efforts are easily spotted and only fuel dissent and distrust. That said, consultation does not mean abdication. The leader may get the input and still decide on the original proposed course of action. The key to gaining buy-in and support is trust. If the consultation was genuine and the leader is competent, the threshold of trust will have been met. A team that exemplifies professionalism will then embrace the proposal as theirs as well as the leader's.
Desert Duty
Mark Haynes and Bill Broyles have written Desert Duty: On the Line with the U.S. Border Patrol. I recently heard them participate in a fascinating panel discussion at the Arizona History Convention.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Taking Time to Write Thank You Notes
I have always written thank-you notes, but have increased my pace due to John Kralik's inspirational book, 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life.
What I've found though is that when it is a proper notecard versus an e-mail thank you, I need to set aside time for writing. I can't just scrawl them here and there.
One other lesson: The best is the enemy of the good. I've delayed some notes that will now have less effect than if I'd jotted an earlier but less eloquent message.
What I've found though is that when it is a proper notecard versus an e-mail thank you, I need to set aside time for writing. I can't just scrawl them here and there.
One other lesson: The best is the enemy of the good. I've delayed some notes that will now have less effect than if I'd jotted an earlier but less eloquent message.
Early Reaction to the Death of Bin Laden
VodkaPundit Stephen Green: Is it true he was done in by a sniper and not an airstrike? If so, that’s a shooter who will never, ever have to buy his own beer again.
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