Commentary Search

  • Leading by example

    Everyone has heard the leadership adage, "you need to lead by example." Leading by example, however, is not strictly the domain of those in traditional leadership roles.All Airmen can lead by example, not only to their subordinates and peers, but also to those higher in rank. In fact, leading by

  • Servant-Leader philosophy

    There are all kinds of family. As an Air National Guardsman, I carry the mantra "Guard is Family." It is a family born of time, growth and experiences. I have known the Arizona force support squadron chief for 15 years, since she was a staff sergeant, and I was a second lieutenant. I've watched her

  • Trust and Communication in Leadership

    I would contend that if you polled the most effective senior leaders today and asked them to convey the two most valuable factors in leadership, they would respond with trust and communication. After all, you cannot have effective communication without trust because without trust people tend to feel

  • Serving beyond the service

    When I was nine years old, my uncle took me to see the changing of the guard on a hot and muggy day. It was late summer at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and I knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was in awe. I wanted to be just like the soldier I saw marching back and

  • Outlook on leadership

    In today's challenging but technology-driven times, preeminent leaders have mastered the art of leadership in absentia through liberal use of Microsoft Outlook, perhaps better known as leadership through email. They have overcome archaic theories such as management by walking around and the

  • Leadership is like dinner

    For those of you who are students of leadership, there are literally thousands of books and articles on leadership, leadership styles, situational leadership, etc. - many of which contain useful information to determine why and how some styles worked in the environment in which they were applied.

  • Lorenz on Leadership: Part 2

    In the summer of 2005, when I was director of Financial Management and Comptroller at the Pentagon, Air and Space Power Journal published an article of mine titled "Lorenz on Leadership." Now, as the commander of Air University, I sit down again to proffer some additional thoughts on my favorite

  • Lorenz on Leadership

    In 1987 I was commander of the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Castle AFB in Merced, California. Late one night, I sat down and wrote out a list of leadership principles. There was nothing magical about them--they were simply useful precepts I had learned over the years. Today, especially after the

  • Mentorship is part of taking care of our people

    Mentor. Who do you think of when you say the word? A teacher who helped you through a subject you needed to pass to graduate? Or maybe a grandparent who showed you how to hold your mouth the correct way while fishing (I was always told to keep mine shut)? Webster's dictionary defines mentor as "a

  • Enlisted force development initiatives approved

    The Force Management and Development Council members approved an initiative that will change the way the Air Force grows the next generation of senior enlisted leaders. The initiative originated with the Enlisted Force Development Panel and will enable the enlisted force to move forward in