"Ellis - isms"

I have quoted COL Lee Ellis often and for good reason. Lee, of course, was the U.S. Air Force Hanoi Hilton inhabitant who when once released, returned to active duty and presently is a well-known consultant, lecturer, author, and the President of Freedom Star Media and Leadership Freedom. I often find that Lee’s prose parallels my own although his seem to be better phrased. Here are some of what I call “Ellis - isms.”

• “Accountability and consequences are rules of nature,

• Wisdom is a guardrail that keeps people and organizations from running aground,

• No excuse, Sir - the confession of culpability and accountability,

• … leaders need to be bold and cautious, strong and humble, objective and empathetic, tough and compassionate, and we could make the list longer,

• Business usually consumes us when we are not living our priorities,

• Leaders are accountable for everything in their domain of influence. The leader always own it,

• In the POW camps, courage was the currency of leadership, and

• It is the lack of courage to confront fears that most often undermines leaders….