Category Archives: Leadership

How People Become Leaders

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Tom Nees

As I think about the leaders I’ve known and served with through the years I still wonder – how did they become leaders? According to Nancy Koehn, in her recent book, Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Reviews | 8 Comments

10 Books That Kept Me Awake in 2017

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Tom Nees

A suggested remedy for insomnia is to read a book. That may be a better way to fall asleep than watching TV, a computer or other devices with screens that may disrupt sleep. But I want books that keep me … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 5 Comments

Are Leaders Born, Made – or Neither?

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Tom Nees

While reading Grant, Ron Chernow’s best selling biography of Ulysses S. Grant, I came across Amy Cunningham’s blog The Leadership Triangle, in which she asks if leaders are made, born or neither. She suggests that we need to change our paradigm … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Reviews | 4 Comments

A Night of Hope

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Tom Nees

During its annual Night Of Hope on Thursday, October 12, the Community of Hope in Washington, D.C., raised over $400,000 – celebrating “Hope Across the City.” Bob Sloan, for 25 years the CEO of Sibley Hospital, pictured here between me … Continue reading →

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Is America Racist?

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Tom Nees

A friend sent me a WSJ article by Shelby Steele: “Why The Left Can’t Let Go of Racism.” It begins with a question, “Is America racist?’’ In the wake of Charlottesville he wanted to know what I think of the … Continue reading →

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Charlottesville

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Tom Nees

If you are Jewish, African American or Native American you may not be that surprised at the rally and protests in Charlottesville this past weekend. You are not surprised when white supremacists spew out their racism and anti-Semitism. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 5 Comments

The Serenity Prayer – and The Reinhold Niebuhr Story

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Tom Nees

The Serenity Prayer, originally composed in 1943 by the pastor-theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) for the troops in WWII, resonates as much now as ever in our public as well as personal lives. God, give us grace to accept with serenity … Continue reading →

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How Well Do We Handle Adversity?

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Tom Nees

I’ve been thinking a lot about that question having recently read Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandburg, CEO of Facebook and Adam Grant, a best-selling author and psychologist at Warton. It may be because … Continue reading →

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On Nurturing Our Networks

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Tom Nees

A life-long friend called last week because he had not heard from me in more than a month. Given our ages, (this is my 80th year – more about that later) he was concerned that perhaps something unfortunate had happened … Continue reading →

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How Optimistic Are You For 2017?

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Tom Nees

I’ve been listening to conversations and asking the question. Some are cautiously optimistic; others pessimistic, a few seem to be hunkering down waiting for the apocalypse. Late in 2016, Thomas Friedman published his most extensive book yet – Thank You … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | 4 Comments