Below is a collection of Dr. McGlaughlin's most recent observations (500+). Most of these observations are made throughout the course of everyday life, captured by dictation, and added to FlintsNotes.com. You can read more about the observation capture process here. The content here changes 5 days a week, so be sure to check back often. Also, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section of each observation.

On the Need for Strategy to be Embodied in a Person

I don’t want my team to focus on strategy; I want them to focus on becoming a strategist. Strategy is stilted. The field has been relegated to a specialist’s…

On Leadership and the Choice between Pervasive Popularity and Meaningful Results

Sometimes, the leader deliberately pushes “the organization” in a way that makes his people feel he is being either unfair or unrealistic. In some cases it is…

On The Difference Between Inserting Yourself and Replacing Yourself

The leader needs to know the difference between inserting themselves and replacing themselves. Leaders often rush around the organization inserting themselves to…

On the Only Way to Optimize Your Effectiveness as a Leader

With MECLABS, I have run a series of leadership experiments. They have been very intentional, and very personal. When I have erred, I have done so on the side of…

On The Price of Organic Growth

There is a price and a payoff for allowing an organization (organism) to grow in an organic way. The growth is slower but the organism is healthier. In such…

On Leadership and the Danger of Being Trapped in a False Dichotomy

As a leader you must beware of being trapped in a false dichotomy. Your team will tell you that “it is either this or that”, and then ask you to choose.…

On Growing a Leader beyond Your Own Needs

The more I train a person to become a leader, the more discontent they become in their current role. I don’t own anyone, but it hurts to see them go. Yet, for…

On the Insufficiency of Good Intentions

A leader can easily be confused by good intentions. It is necessary to have good intentions but it is not sufficient. Sufficiency is achieved when the right…

On Ideas that Drive Business

Sometimes in 5 minutes you say something that will drive the business for the next 10 years. But you must always ask, "Is this the best way?"  

On Becoming Too Busy to Slow Down and See

Leaders can become overwhelmed by all that must be done. Yet the number one reason we carry the burden is not because be we have too much to do; it is because we…