1: Imagine taking our seat at a classical music concert. We arrive early, and the orchestra is warming up.
“And it’s a very unpleasant noise because they’re all doing their own flourishes,” observes U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis in CEO Excellence by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra.
“Suddenly, they stop,” Richard describes. “And then out of stage right comes a human being holding nothing more … continue reading
1: When Mary Barra became CEO of General Motors in 2014, she immediately faced a crisis that would shape her leadership philosophy.
At least 124 people were dead because of a faulty ignition issue with General Motors’s cars. The company had been aware of the problem for more than a decade.
Mary responded quickly. More than 29 million cars were ultimately recalled.
There was, however, a more significant learning for … continue reading
1: “The Tour de France is one of the world’s most grueling sporting events,” McKinsey consultants Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in their book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.
“Over three summer weeks,” they note, “about twenty teams with eight riders each push themselves to the limit, pedaling through two thousand miles of terrain including … continue reading
1: The best CEOs establish a mindset for their leadership teams.
“The top team is every member’s ‘first team,'” McKinsey consultants Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in their book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.
“The best CEOs are unequivocal on this issue,” Carolyn, Scott, and Vikram note. “This means that everyone is expected to put the … continue reading
Martin Luther King Jr. is a personal hero of mine, and Taylor Branch‘s Parting the Waters is one of my favorite books.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I’m sharing a column from Boston Globe writer Jeff Jacoby I read last week that I found interesting.
TITLE: Black patriotism and Martin Luther King Jr.
by Jeff Jacoby
IT IS often forgotten that Martin Luther King Jr. was … continue reading
1: “Managers are thermometers, and leaders are thermostats,” Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in their book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.
Managers react to what happens. They solve problems and deal with the here and now. They measure things and report out results.
“Leaders influence their environment,” Carolyn, Scott, and Vikram write. ” They alter people’s … continue reading
1: “In God we trust, all others bring data,” management scientist W. Edwards Deming once said.
“The best CEOs adhere to this mantra,” Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in their book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.
“Our decision-making principles insist on evidence,” says former Intuit CEO Brad Smith. “One of the mottos is, ‘Because of (blank), … continue reading
1: The executive team had gathered to make three investment decisions.
“First, they discussed the investment for a £10 million nuclear power plant,” Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in their book CEO Excellence, citing C. Northcote Parkinson’s 1958 book The Pursuit of Progress.
Total time spent to make the decision: Two and a half minutes.
Next up? What color should they paint their … continue reading
1: The team is known as the “Dream Team.” The original version.
The 1992 US Men’s Olympic basketball squad had a roster for the ages, including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, and Karl Malone.
“All were consummate professionals with a track record of not only being all-star players but also playing on all-star teams,” Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra… continue reading
To become a transcendent leader, we must understand what truly motivates people.
Author and leadership expert Fred Kofman believes there are four levers leaders must utilize to capture the hearts and minds of their team members.
Yesterday, we looked at the power of purpose. Today, we detail three other powerful tools transcendent leaders tap into to build inspired organizations: Principles, People, and Autonomy.
First up: Principles.
“As a culture architect,” … continue reading
