Patriot Leadership Podcast

Lonnie Buckner Jr

The Patriot Leadership Podcast is hosted by Lonnie Buckner, retired US Marine and business executive. A lack of leadership in the workplace and society is rampant. We will discuss issues in the workplace, share funny stories, not so funny stories and more. We will have guests on the show to share insights and examples, as well as failures and lessons learned. Listeners can share their experiences with good and bad leaders as well as call in to the show to share information. Let's make this a fun place to become better leaders together!

  1. 04/24/2023

    Episode 21: 10 Worst Leadership Characteristics and the EBAY Campaign of Terror Terror

    They don’t have enough confidence to lead at their level. The boss I mentioned at the start was like this. He couldn’t decide because he had no faith in his decisions. They’re arrogant, assuming they always know what’s best. It takes confidence to lead. It also takes humility. Many leaders think they’re confident when they’re really just pigheaded and proud.  They’re disorganized. I’ve worked with some hard-driving, capable leaders who hamstrung themselves by never getting organized. I reported to one leader like this, right up until I was promoted above him. The first thing I did was fire him. Their words and actions erode trust, even with their supporters. When I fired the boss I just mentioned, this is the primary reason for my decision. I could never count on him as his direct report. I certainly didn’t want him reporting to me. They over-promise and under-deliver. This one affects more than just politicians. People leading up in an organization often do this this because they are trying to impress those above them, failing to realize that by under-delivering they are shooting themselves in the foot. And people at the top fall into the trap by overusing promises as a way to ensure team loyalty. They don’t articulate a clear vision. No one wants to follow in the dark. It’s impossible to motivate people who feel in a fog. They don’t enroll others in their initiatives. No. 7 is related to No. 6. Some leaders just expect people will follow them just because of their position. Wrong. If a leader can’t enroll others, failure looms. They’re not transparent. Openness encourages honesty. How often do we see the opposite playing out in business and politics? Scandal is only the endgame. But how many bad calls are made before the news finally breaks? They’re blind to what’s happening in their own organizations. Insulation is fine for the walls of your house, but not for leadership. To lead requires visibility. Without it, you’ll find yourself blindsided and making major blunders. They don’t hold people accountable—especially themselves. If a leader avoids responsibility and won’t hold their team accountable, they’ll shipwreck the organization. Accountability is essential.

  2. 04/14/2023

    Episode 20

    Our focus here is on leadership - the good, the bad, and the ugly. We delve into current events and interview guests to discuss how leadership relates to both business and life. Today, I'll be discussing three topics that are top of mind. While I avoid politics, I do discuss politics as it relates to leadership and not necessarily policy. Good leadership is universal, and it's all about how you treat people. Politicians are elected to represent our interests and are sworn to uphold the constitution. We all expect our leaders to have integrity, courage, and commitment, regardless of policy. Recently, there were congressional hearings with the CEOs of TikTok and Norfolk Southern Railroad. What stood out to me were the numerous representatives who behaved childishly and were frankly embarrassing. While I understand the need for clarity around security issues, it's how you approach it that matters. Most Americans would agree that we want our leaders to behave professionally and not engage in childish behavior. Many representatives would ask questions and then answer them instead of allowing the CEO to respond. It's embarrassing to see our nation's leaders behaving in such a manner, and we deserve better. Regarding the Norfolk Southern situation, the CEO was evasive and kept repeating non-answers. As a leader, it's important to take responsibility and provide solutions, not blame. Joe Biden, when asked about inflation, refused to accept any responsibility, which is not a mature or responsible answer. As a leader, taking responsibility and providing solutions is the way to go. I also wanted to mention my new book, Leadership Tightrope, available on Amazon. In it, I discuss ten leadership failures from prominent figures, such as Larry Householder and Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos. Our company helps frustrated business leaders get their businesses back on track by addressing issues such as high turnover, inability to retain good people, not seeing expected growth, and underperforming employees. Thank you, and let's continue the discussion on leadership!

    Episode 20
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Patriot Leadership Podcast is hosted by Lonnie Buckner, retired US Marine and business executive. A lack of leadership in the workplace and society is rampant. We will discuss issues in the workplace, share funny stories, not so funny stories and more. We will have guests on the show to share insights and examples, as well as failures and lessons learned. Listeners can share their experiences with good and bad leaders as well as call in to the show to share information. Let's make this a fun place to become better leaders together!