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This Land of Strangers - Robert E Hall

This Land of Strangers

"..the most important book of the decade." — Richard Boyatzis, co-author of best seller Primal Leadership

Relationships, in all their varied forms, have been the lifetime study of Robert Hall. He brings a rare combination of experience as a researcher, consultant, writer, teacher and CEO in dealing with the real-world relationship challenges of modern organizations. When coupled with a decade of hands-on experience in the gritty world of inner-city homeless families it translates into a tapestry of vivid stories, well-researched and oft startling facts, and strategic insights that weave together the yet untold narrative of society's gravest risk and most stellar opportunity.

Blog & Articles

Robert has published more than 150 columns, articles, white papers, and research studies on relationship. In addition to being a regular contributor at Huffington Post, his work has been published and discussed in Forbes, American Banker, Sales & Marketing Management magazine, The CEO Magazine, ABA Bank Marketing magazine, Computerworld, The Daily Beast, Business Week, The Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times, The Detroit News, The Indianapolis Star and in international publications including Sydney Morning News (Australia), European Financial Management Association (London) and Relational Thinking Network (Cambridge, UK).

Clinton & Trump: The Growing Approval of Disapproval, by Robert Hall, Huffington Post May 6, 2016

… from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties…and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses J. P. Toner, Leisure and Ancient Rome

If you are among the 56 percent who disapprove of Hillary Clinton or the 65 percent who disapprove of Donald Trump for president – what now?  Surveys have found that the word most associated with Hillary was liar and second was dishonest; and for Donald it was arrogant, followed […]

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‘No Victims’ Leadership: The Road Out of Hell, By Robert Hall, Huffington Post, April 8, 2016

We must picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement and where everyone has a grievance. C.S. Lewis

Welcome to hell.  Angry voters, disengaged workers and aggrieved protestors rule the day.  Increasingly we are a society routinely exaggerating our grievances, joining partisan tribes, throwing stones at oppositional groups and ‘de-authorizing’ leadership: find pain, assign blame.  It is all part of a decades-long trend of rejecting traditional authority and entrenched institutions – too often […]

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Getting Real About ‘Strong’ Leaders, by Robert Hall, Huffington Post, January 22, 2016

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes. Jim Carey
Behind every great leader are subordinates rolling their eyes. Robert Hall

Believing in leadership is like believing in religion: if you expect perfection from those mortals who practice it, you will be mightily disappointed. The very need for strong leadership is an admission of human weakness – that unfortunately includes our leaders. Whether picking a President, company CEO or a mate as prospective parent of your children, we struggle to […]

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“Is Love the Answer to the Disengagement Economy,” Forbes discusses Robert Hall’s Disengagement Economy

Ryan Scott at Forbes delves into my Huffington Post article, “The Three Tests of Leadership in the New Disengagement Economy,” and concludes just how important emotional currency is building strong, engaged, productive relationships.

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When a Society Falls Madly in Love with Hating Enemies, Huffington Post, December 23, 2015

Never hate your enemies.  It affects your judgment.  The Godfather

Enemy: it is the ascending relationship of our time. Terrorism, a Presidential election, and racial strife are but some of the forces that propel “enemy” as today’s hot stock in a turbulent relationship marketplace. The list of enemies seems to grow endlessly: Radical Muslims, hypocritical Christians, brutal police, entitled blacks, racist whites, environmental-wackos, climate-change deniers – not to mention Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Increasingly we are defined by the enemies […]

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The Follower Revolt: What’s Eating Leaders for Breakfast? by Robert Hall, Huffington Post, November 18, 2015

“Followers unite!” And just like that established leaders like Timothy Wolfe, President of the University of Missouri, and Martin Winterkorn, CEO at Volkswagen, are gone.

 
While there is much talk about developing stronger leaders, what seems a more present reality is that followers have become much more empowered to actively – and sometimes passively – reject leaders they no longer are willing to follow.

 
Sometimes it appears to be warranted and long overdue. Other times it looks like an angry torch-carrying mob […]

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How Understanding Millennials Can Make You a Better Leader by Robert Hall, Huffington Post, July 28,2015

Where are all those fearful, desperate, compliant workers when you need them? The good ole days of unquestioned leadership, enforced hierarchy and kingship are ending. Millennials are different. Leaders today face a gaping generational chasm which translates into a tough challenge – and a unique opportunity to become a better leader.

First of all, this Millennial generation is larger. Millennials (born1980—2000) are estimated at 92 million compared to their largest predecessor – 77 million Baby Boomers. In 2015 they will become […]

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Big Boy (Girl) Pants for Leaders: Three Keys to Redirecting Our Victim Culture, by Robert Hall, Huffington Post July 14, 2015

This is the power that’s taken away from that individual that did these acts…he thought he was going to generate a race war…now they have the victory…he has no power in this at all. -Pastor Thomas Dixon, Charleston, South Carolina, CNN 6/19/15

As the Confederate flag was lowered respectfully, permanently at the South Carolina Statehouse, a nation and the world were further reminded how victims of harrowing loss were transformed into empowered victors – rendering a ruthless persecutor impotent. Their actions […]

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