The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast

#044: Rosalynn Carter and Charlie Munger - Leaders

In this episode, Dr. Bedker quotes two iconic leaders, Rosalynn Carter and Charlie Munger, as a means to share their lives of exemplars in leadership.  Rosalynn Carter, the first lady of Georgia and first lady of the United States, and Charlie Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, the hugely successful investment company are showcased for their lives of exemplary leadership.  We all can learn from their lifetimes of leadership by example.  They modeled the leadership way.

#043: Leadership Today - Across the Board

In this episode Dr. Bedker talks a walk down the leadership boardwalk. He showcases current social, political, economic, military, labor and sports leadership events in our world today.  This episode is a cameo for leaders across several of the central components of our lives. Are we “doing the right thing” from a leadership perspective? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Each is given attention in this contemporaneous episode.

#042: For Leadership to be effective, it must be consistent

The episode focuses on a key leadership axiom: "For leadership to be effective it must be consistent." Historical and current examples are given from a David Leonhardt article to showcase both the successes and failures of leaders as they try to lead diverse groups. For leaders to do the right thing, they may be able to effect positive change through eliminating or mitigating even one variable in a leadership challenge. The metaphor of the fire triangle is offered to make this point.

#041: Hakeem Jeffries - Minority Leader

The leadership of the United States House of Representatives is a mess. The former senior leader, the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Two weeks have passed and the Representative, Jim Jordan, that has been seeking the speakership has faltered on his first two attempts to win the votes necessary to become Speaker. In this episode Dr. Bedker details those events and provides a leadership picture for the opposing party, the Democratic Party. Hakeem Jeffries, the Minority Leader is showcased.

#040: Congressional Leadership Failure

In this 40th episode of the Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast, Dr. Bedker highlights the background and results of the Motion to Vacate the office of the Speaker of the Unites States House of Representatives, Representative Kevin McCarthy.  The Speaker was removed by a vote of a small number of his fellow Republican members.  The leadership deficiencies of  Speaker McCarthy are clear and consistent.  Congressional leadership needs to lead to govern.  Speaker McCarthy did neither.

#039: Women and Leadership

In this episode, Dr. Bedker shares the many and varied leadership core competencies of women.  Women in leadership do not get the attention it deserves. Women can be and are excellent leaders. Dr. Bedker highlights a real-life example in this episode; the launch of the first American into space. The movie “Hidden Figures” is detailed and the women who made the computations for launch. Women and leadership provide a benchmark for all of us. Cheers, to women and leadership.

#038: Collectivism - Labor Day

In this Labor Day episode, Dr. Bedker highlights current research and the first-ever release on the benefits of labor unions by the Department of the Treasury.  Comments by Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen are given.  The focus is on processes rather than outcomes and to focus on problem-solving rather than problem identification.  A specific encounter over the Labor Day weekend is given to clarify much remains to be done to “do the right thing” by labor leaders and their corporate employers.

 

#037: Collectivism Pt. 3

In this final installment on collectivism, Dr. Bedker addresses the issue of government leaders.  Civil unrest and political unrest are at heightened states not seen before in our turbulent world.  The leadership calling of government leaders could not be more timely or critical.  Dr. Bedker addresses both the USA experience and the international experience.  This episode concludes with 5 axioms for government leaders.

#036: Collectivism Pt. 2

In Part 2 of this series on collectivism, Dr. Bedker speaks about specific examples and specific companies' experiences with collectivism and unions.  The tension between capitalism and democracy is revisited.  A new Harvard Business School case study on Amazon and its unionization genesis is addressed.  This episode provides a snapshot of the current union contract status across American corporations and institutions.  The episode closes with a positive note, a tentative agreement for the workers and company, UPS.

#035: Collectivism Pt. 1

In this episode, Dr. Bedker makes the case for collectivism.  The benefits of a collective workforce, a union, are made and research results are given by leading scholars.  The paradox of labor interests versus corporations' interests is highlighted.  There is a tension between capitalism and democracy.  A collectively organized workforce is good for workers, their families, and society.  This is at odds with the financial interests of stockholders and corporate leadership.  Should the few win or the many prevail?