The Leader’s Notebook with Dr. Mark Rutland

All leaders are mixed vessels. So was King David. In this episode, leaders can see what went in to David’s best and most destructive decisions. How can the same leader win two successive victories over vastly superior forces then lose to a solitary woman?

At one time or another, every leader feels overwhelmed by the pressure of decisions that can make the difference between success and failure. From King David, leaders can learn decision making in the face of terrible crisis and great opportunity.

Everyone’s life is, to some extent, a roller coaster. King David’s life careened up, down and sideways from crisis to victory, to the mountain top, to the valley of death and back again. This episode deals with tactical leadership in the midst and strategy on the other side.

You probably never thought of King David as a startup or turn around leader, but that is exactly what he was, on multiple occasions. This episode presents keys to successfully negotiating the transitions between strategy and tactics, which is which and when to use one or the other.

The Leader’s Notebook airs once a week every Tuesday. With a historic watershed election only days away and the United States in such turmoil, I present this special episode based on Isaiah chapter 6, in the hope that it may encourage you.

Ever had a great idea that blew up in your face? There is a possibility, it was, in fact, a good idea or even a great idea, but the timing was terrible. Among the many fascinating leadership lessons to be learned from King David, not the least of what this episode deals with is timing. Essential insights on timing for modern leaders.

In this episode, King David teaches the modern leader one of life’s harshest lessons. There may be someone in your life, perhaps an unlikely someone, who, for no good reason, hates you, literally hates you. David knew how to deal with it when his own father-in-law’s murderous hatred became increasingly obvious.

From an Iron Age warrior chieftain, we can learn how to win, even when we are surrounded by opposition, envy, and suspicion.

The first of a ten-part series on the life and leadership of King David. This episode introduces the complex genius that was far greater, more complicated, and fascinating than the little felt board Sunday School version that so many children were taught.

In this episode (Part 2 of 2) on Marc Antony and executive stress deals with the balance between Eklusis and “string follow.” Every leader lives a great deal of life under pressure. The question is never, how do I avoid it? It is rather, how do I deal with it?

What could a modern leader facing tremendous stress learn from an ancient Roman general? This intriguing episode (Part 1 of 2) reveals why Marc Antony lost a war he should never have lost and draws powerful parallels to the daily stress of the contemporary leader.

Among the aspects of communication damaged by the modern age, dialogue may be the most abused. This episode teaches five essential keys to successful dialogue.

Shaping the inner culture of an organization is among the most important of all aspects of leadership. Masquerading as wise old proverbs, highly destructive words get said repeatedly. This episode unmasks six subversive mindsets that are the enemies of a positive, productive organizational culture.

Dr. Rutland claims that the greatest mistake leaders make in trying to guide an organization through change is announcing it rather than leading it. In this episode, Rutland speaks to leading change as only an experienced change agent can.

It’s one thing for a leader to make a solitary executive decision. It’s quite another to guide a team through that process and in this episode, Dr. Rutland speaks out to the process of his extensive experience.

Most executives bemoan the constant stress of decision making. In this episode, Dr. Rutland shares practical ways to dilute the stress and speed up the process.

In this important teaching, Dr. Rutland comes against the fallacious concept that leadership and management are opposites. Instead, he claims, they are two sides of the same coin.

In this episode, Dr. Rutland uses six Hebrew verbs to teach on the necessity for flexible creativity in 21st Century leadership.

Modern streets are filled with rage. So was Nebuchadnezzar when three Jewish boys defied him. In this episode, Dr. Rutland offers a unique perspective on rage and entitlement.

Dr. Rutland has successfully led multiple financially stressed organizations through remarkable turnarounds. In this episode, he speaks to three essential keys a ReLaunch.

You may be surprised by Dr. Rutland’s unusual philosophical approach to the issue of legalism. You may also find it unusually comforting.

Throughout the scriptures, God has occasionally granted epiphanies of Himself. Today Dr. Rutland sheds light on why in the midst of a national crisis, The Lord would appear to one man as a King upon His throne.

In Part III of The Mission-Function Vertical Axis, Dr. Rutland explains why the confusion between function and purpose ALWAYS erodes good customer service.

In Part II of his teaching on The Mission-Function Vertical Axis, Dr. Rutland deals with the damage to organizations that confuse strategy and tactics.

In this podcast, which he acknowledges will be controversial in some leadership circles, Dr. Rutland explores the true place of mission vs the power of vision. This is the vital question he deals with. Where is the organizational energy?

The secret of strength and health is alignment, says Dr. Rutland. In this podcast, he explores the 3 M’s of alignment.

21st Century leadership that looks a lot like Ben Hur. Important insights into the leader’s internal and organizational tension on the chaos-control continuum. Visit DrMarkRutland.com and theNICL.com for more.

The gifts of the “natural leader” show up early, even on the schoolyard. But what if they never mature beyond the schoolyard? Visit DrMarkRutland.com and theNICL.com for more.

Gain practical, powerful, and inspirational knowledge through his perspective to navigate life as a 21st century leader. As Dr. Rutland always says, “This podcast is about life, leadership, relationships and faith.”