Subscribe to the Three Star Leadership Blog

The Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check Wally's Three Star Leadership Letter

Find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.

Find out more about Wally's coaching services.

Back when Dick Gregory was a comedian he asked, "Wouldn't it be funny if Nikita Khrushchev didn't hate us, but his interpreters did?"

Remember that quote as you listen to reporting about the US presidential campaign and candidates, about negotiations in Washington and about anything you read in the paper or on the web. And remember what happened to Charlie Wilson.

I'm not talking about the Charlie Wilson of Charlie Wilson's War. I'm talking about "Engine Charlie" Wilson, president of General Motors from 1941 to 1953 and Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957.

This Charlie Wilson was called "Engine Charlie" to distinguish him from "Electric Charlie" Wilson who was president of General Electric. "Engine Charlie" is the fellow who said: "What is good for General Motors is good for America."

Except that's not what he said. That's what was reported.

During his confirmation hearing, Wilson was asked if he could make a decision that was good for the nation but bad for General Motors. "Engine Charlie" said that he could because:

"For years I thought that what was good for our country was good for General Motors."

The actual quote was twisted all out of shape and leaked to the press by politicians opposed to the administration. Today it's what everybody "knows" that Engine Charlie Wilson said. The purposeful misquote is even in Bartlett's

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.

Request your free copy of "Meeting the Challenges of the Boomer Brain Drain: An integrated approach."

Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

Click here to find out more about Wally's coaching services.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check our Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership Letter.

Click here to find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.