James Murphy
James D. Murphy, the founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.afterburnerconsulting.com/">Afterburner, Inc.</a>, has a unique, powerful mix of leadership skills in both the military and business worlds. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Murphy joined the U.S. Air Force where he learned to fly the F-15. He has logged over 1,200 hours as an instructor pilot in the F-15 and has accumulated over 3,200 hours of flight time in other high-performance jet aircraft.
Articles by this Author
Execution Rhythm Encourages Effective Business Communication
- By James Murphy
- Published 07/21/2009
- Business Management
- Unrated
With so many new gadgets to divert attention and
collaboration, a breakdown in effective business communication is bound to
happen. But, with the proper preparation, a team can combat these challenges
with the "Execution Rhythm" methodology, a powerful solution that
fills the gaps that often prevent the completion of tasks in a business
environment. Discover how using new tools can actually help team members close
their Execution Gaps.
The Value of Military Leadership Experience in Turbulent Business Environments
- By James Murphy
- Published 12/10/2009
- Business Management
- Unrated
Surviving and prospering in a troubled economy requires a certain kind of leadership. Since the tactics required in both business and combat are fundamentally similar, business success and military leadership experience are often linked. See what the latest research says about how military officers can improve companies operating in turbulent business environments.
Checklists - Building Teams in Complex Environments
- By James Murphy
- Published 03/25/2010
- Business Management
- Unrated
Regardless of the industry in which you work, checklists save lives, money, and time. Despite having numbers of technological tools at our disposal, humans are still prone to needless error. These situations - whether simple or complex - can be avoided with a concise, yet comprehensive operations checklist. Not only can it boost performance, but it can also be an effective team building strategy.
Recruiting America's Military Elite to Lead Your Organization
- By James Murphy
- Published 07/15/2010
- Business Management
- Unrated
The value that transitioning military leaders bring to civilian organizations is quickly becoming a highly sought after asset. Unlike their business contemporaries, America's military elite have already headed up a team comprised of their fellow soldiers, for whom they are directly responsible. Discover how recruiting former military leaders can inject your organization with incredible knowledge and skills.
Project Execution through Successful Leadership: How to Lead Like a Fighter Pilot
- By James Murphy
- Published 12/22/2010
- Business Management
- Unrated
Successful leadership is a concept measured by benchmarked success and project execution, and is also indicated by one's actions and influence upon others. While innate values and personal characteristics lend themselves heavily toward the development of a leader, these traits do not primarily form the core of a true leader. Leadership is defined by a combination of values, thoughts, and the ability to inspire others to emulate your actions.
The Benefit of Safety Debriefing – Developing a Culture of Learning through Lessons Learned
- By James Murphy
- Published 03/22/2011
- Business Management
- Unrated
Safety debriefing skills learned from a qualified consulting firm is a necessity in today's rapidly changing business environment. The forces of rapid global change can render limited professional skill sets obsolete almost overnight, and continuous learning about business processes can give professionals invaluable 'lessons learned', helping to prevent succumbing to obsolescence or irrelevance.
Complexity: The Execution Challenge You Don't See
- By James Murphy
- Published 04/19/2011
- Business Management
- Unrated
Complexity lies in every aspect of strategic planning and it is a concept that needs to be clearly understood in order to anticipate and overcome execution challenges. We live in a highly complex world and - for the most part - we cannot comprehend the intricate concepts needed for strategic planning. With outside management consulting, companies often see that it is easier to understand the complex architecture of cause and effect.
Strategic Planning and Effects-Based Thinking: Part 1
- By James Murphy
- Published 07/22/2011
- Business Management
- Unrated
In strategic planning and decision making, effects-based thinking (EBT) is a vital tactic to assess the effects of specific actions, not in a narrowly defined and time-limited way, but through a perspective that is sensitive to broad-ranging and lasting impacts. In our fast-paced personal and work lives, we tend to think more about today's issues rather than tomorrow's - but effects-based thinking is the opposite of short-sightedness.
Effects-Based Thinking: Part II
- By James Murphy
- Published 07/27/2011
- Business Management
- Unrated
In 'Effects-Based Thinking - Part I', the definition of effects-based thinking, or EBT, was established as an approach to strategic planning, which contributes to long-lasting organizational impacts. Expanding on this concept, we can view the differences between strategic planning with EBT and simply tracking progress with metrics. With EBT, we're able to construct, align and adapt our measurements to ensure success within the organization.
Effects-Based Thinking Part III
- By James Murphy
- Published 08/9/2011
- Business Management
- Unrated
In Part I of this series, the concept that everything exists within a system from the perspective of complexity was introduced. In Part II, a three-tiered framework of effects-based thinking (EBT) and planning critical to understanding change in organizations, markets and communities was discussed. In this final installment, discover how effects are planned within complex systems and how adaptive leadership propels those effects.
