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

1: “Eliciting people’s internal commitment to pursue a common goal is the job of every leader,” writes Fred Kofman in his terrific book The Meaning Revolution: The Power of Transcendent Leadership.

We seek “the internal commitment of our followers to pursue a common goal, giving the best of themselves because they want to, because they find it intrinsically valuable beyond external incentives.” 

So how do we do that? 

“By … continue reading

1: The best CEOs understand that they must have a “hands-on” connection with each individual on their leadership team, McKinsey consultants Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra write in CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.

“You invest time and energy with each, recognizing they’re all individuals,” comments Michael Fisher, CEO of the nonprofit Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  … continue reading

1: It was the 1990s. DBS Group CEO Piyush Gupta was working at Citibank and was halfway through a three-year assignment within the bank.  

One afternoon, he sat down with his executive coach, who asked him to identify the A, B, and C players on the team he was leading.  

Piyush had some A players.  But many of those on his team were B and C players.

“The coach bluntly … continue reading

1: Imagine walking through a forest.  

“The diversity of trees you’ll see can be quite dazzling,” write McKinsey consultants Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra in CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest.  

“Douglas fir, white pine, Aspen, red maple, and oak soar toward the sky, each individually competing with the others for sunlight and space.”

Is this true? Actually … continue reading

1: Selecting the right people and putting them in the right roles is just the beginning of the CEO’s role in managing talent.

The best CEOs, write McKinsey consultants Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vikram Malhotra in their book CEO Excellence, make a considerable investment of time and energy “into coaching, retaining talent, managing performance, and planning for succession for the most valuable roles.”

These leaders become … continue reading

1: Imagine working for an organization with a strong and deep workplace culture. We love our job and our company. Our work has purpose and meaning. Leaders walk the talk regarding integrity and doing the right thing. We feel a sense of belonging and connection with our colleagues and have autonomy in our work.

“How much more would another firm, known for its toxic culture, dysfunctional employees, soul-crushing work, obsessive … continue reading

This week, we’ve been exploring the concept of going 10x in our business and in our lives, as outlined by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy in their book 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less. Today’s post is a powerful narrative of bringing this idea into reality.

1: It was 1983.  Shortly after getting married, Linda McKissack and her husband, Jimmy, … continue reading