Chamberlain on Leadership
When I did the Memorial Day post about the holiday being first called Decoration Day as the Civil War drew to a close, I decided to find a quote from a notable soldier who fought in that war. Though a Southerner, I thought of a Union general, not so much because he was the hero of Gettysburg but because he gained the South’s lasting respect by the way he presided over the parade of Confederate soldiers who marched into Appomattox where Robert E. Lee gave his formal surrender. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain ordered his men to come to attention and “carry arms” as a show of respect to the defeated Confederate army. Although suffering from wounds he received during the war for the rest of his life, Chamberlain lived to be 85 and served as President of Bowdoin College and Governor of Maine.
He said something that expresses a leadership attitude much needed today in a government often uselessly divided by partisanship and in workplaces where ideas of employees are stifled by a rigid way of doing things.
“I never could be a partisan leader–a man of one idea.”
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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