Understanding Lincoln – Presidents at War: Conflicts with Generals

If you hadn’t heard, our colleague and resident Abraham Lincoln expert Matt Pinsker has been conducting an incredible on-line course titled “Understanding Lincoln.” Diamond6 CEO Jeff McCausland was asked to participate. This most recent session focused the conflicts Lincoln faced with his generals. The responses to the discussion from grateful teachers has been incredible so far, all of them along the lines of this excerpt:

– “I thought yesterday’s discussion was incredibly intelligent.”

Tanya McCauslandJuly 1, 2014Comment

Understanding Lincoln

Our colleague and resident Abraham Lincoln expert Matt Pinsker is conducting an incredible on-line course titled “Understanding Lincoln.” Diamond6 CEO Jeff McCausland was asked to participate. The responses to the discussion from grateful teachers has been incredible. We’ve included some below:

Tanya McCauslandJune 24, 2014Comment

Leadership Insights from “A Day of Infamy”

This past summer I was fortunate to conduct a leadership seminar for a corporate group in Honolulu using the attack on Pearl Harbor our case study. This encouraged me to do extensive background reading on the tragic events of December 7th 1941 and the days immediately following. I also visited the sites in Hawaii that were attacked. The effort reaffirmed my belief that during crises the best (and sometimes the worst….) about leadership in any organization is underscored at such moments of great stress. Clearly, this consideration is not in any way meant to glorify war, as I have personally seen far too much of war’s horror and destruction. But it is rather to consider the day of infamy (that is so remembered by nearly every American and others around the world) from the perspective of what can any leader learn from this tragedy that might well resonate today? As we approach the seventy-second anniversary of the attack there are a large number of important insights that can be taken from this iconic event. The following are just a few.

Tanya McCauslandDecember 5, 2013 Comment

Your 3-step crisis management plan

As Henry Kissinger famously said, “There cannot be a crisis today; my schedule is already full!”

Unfortunately, crises have no respect for our busy calendars. That is why it is of utmost importance that every organization, big or small, have a crisis management plan.

In mental health terms, a crisis refers not necessarily to a traumatic situation or event, but to a person’s reaction. One person might be deeply affected by an incident, while another person suffers little or no ill effects. Furthermore, the Chinese word for crisis presents a good depiction of its components. The word crisis in Chinese is formed by two other characters — danger and opportunity. A crisis presents an obstacle, trauma, or threat, but it also presents a chance for either organizational growth or decline.

Tanya McCauslandNovember 21, 2013Comment

Battle of Yorktown Leadership Workshop

The Battle of Yorktown was the decisive victory that led to American victory in the Revolutionary War and our independence.The Battle of Yorktown serves as a perfect “leadership laboratory” to consider enduring principles such as ethics, strategic planning, team building, decision-making, and conflict resolution to name but a few.

The Watergate Crisis Leadership Workshop

During a fateful few days the nation faced not only a political crisis brought about by President Nixon’s firing of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox but also the Yom Kippur war in the Middle East that brought the US into direct confrontation with the Soviet Union. Historians refer to this as the “Saturday Night Massacre”, but it was truly a “crisis within a crisis”.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor Leadership Workshop

December 7th, 1941 is an iconic date marking the attack on Pearl Harbor. The actions of leaders on both sides of this historic battle made the difference in the turn of events on that day, for better or for worse.

Battle of Gettysburg Leadership Workshop

The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought on the North American continent. This workshop begins with an overview of the battle, providing the historic background essential to understanding strategic leadership decisions that were made by both the North and South, setting the stage for this iconic event.

Battle of Bull Run Leadership Workshop

The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the American Civil War. This workshop begins in Washington, DC. A brief introduction will provide a leadership overview and historic background essential to the Battle of Bull Run.

Battle of the Alamo Leadership Workshop

The Alamo is a timeless event shrouded in legend and lore. The struggle of 189 Texans against over 2,000 Mexican soldiers for 13 days is a tale that inspires Americans even today and has been captured in several films. But underneath the iconic, legendary figures and the constant retelling of the story by Hollywood is a classic case study for leadership which is relevant for all modern-day leaders.

Battle of Antietam Leadership Workshop

The Battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing. In order to understand how and why battles are fought it is important to first understand the larger operational, strategic, and political context in which they occur.

experiential workshopTanya McCauslandNovember 20, 2013antietam

Churchill Leadership Workshop

Sir Winston Churchill The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought on the North American continent. This workshop begins with an overview of the battle, providing the historic background essential to understanding strategic leadership decisions that were made by both the North and South, setting the stage for this iconic event.

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