Leadership

Why Hope Matters Now

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

It’s easy to cultivate a sense of doom at the moment, and there are ample reasons to give up hope. But business leaders should resist the tide of negativity, says a prominent psychologist. That’s because hope serves a bottom-line business purpose.

What Leaders Must Do Next

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Most senior executives are pushing hard to keep their companies together. If their businesses are to survive, those leaders can’t overlook opportunities to boost productivity and profitability -- and that means employee engagement is more critical than ever.

Scientific, Systematic Succession Planning

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Succession planning involves much more than filling in boxes on an organizational chart. If it’s done right -- that is, scientifically and systematically -- it creates a pool of leadership talent that can drive an organization, engage employees, and increase shareholder value.

Where Is the Economy Going?

Thu, 21 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Executives are getting conflicting signals. They’re told the U.S. GDP contracted sharply in early 2009, but also that the recession is bottoming out. Gallup Chief Economist Dennis Jacobe, an early forecaster of the downturn, tries to clear up the confusion.

The Economic Crisis: A Leadership Challenge

Tue, 12 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The economy may get worse before it gets better: Most economists say the U.S. GDP will turn around by mid-2009, but the unemployment rate will continue to climb through 2010. Here’s how executives can keep employees engaged in this rough economic climate.

What Strong Teams Have in Common

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Gallup has been studying leadership teams for nearly four decades, and that research has uncovered five telltale signs of strong, high-performing groups of employees, report Tom Rath and Barry Conchie, authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

Lessons in Solving Big Problems

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Business and government leaders can learn a lot from a think tank that’s saving New York City’s public schools. It gets good advice from the right people, pays close attention to problems, and has a zero-tolerance policy for failure.

The Strengths of Leadership

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:00:00 GMT

We all have natural talents, but the greatest leaders are unusually aware of theirs. They know what they’re good at, and they don’t try to make themselves well-rounded or like some other leader, say the authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

What Makes a Great Leadership Team?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:00:00 GMT

One of the core principles of strengths management is that people don’t need to be well-rounded to succeed. It helps, however, if teams are well-rounded, say the authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

A Military General’s Leadership Lessons

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

He’s best known for coordinating the U.S. military's relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the Gulf Coast. Now, Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré offers subtle and surprising insights into the art of leading organizations.

What Followers Want From Leaders

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Believe it or not, the "vision thing" pales in comparison to what followers really want and need: a sense of trust, stability, hope, and compassion. So say the authors of Strengths Based Leadership, which is out this month.

What to Expect in 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

All eyes will be on the U.S. economy over the next 12 months. The outlook is of particular importance to executives and managers, who have to make short- and long-term decisions for their organizations as economic news continues to unfold. Here, two leading economists offer their blunt assessment. Warning: Don’t expect good news for a while.

New Book Destroys the Myth of the Well-Rounded Leader

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Strengths Based Leadership, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Rath and renowned leadership expert Barry Conchie, reveals key findings about leadership; offers readers access to a leadership version of the Clifton StrengthsFinder program; and presents engaging stories of successful leaders.

Finding Your Leadership Strengths

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Research shows that effective leaders must possess a high level of self-awareness. But too many leaders are blind to their own personalities -- they simply don’t know their own strengths and weaknesses, say the authors of Strengths Based Leadership.

What Obama Should Do

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Gallup’s chief economist points to the incoming president’s most pressing economic concerns and how to solve them. He explains why policymakers keep dropping the ball and how Barack Obama can avoid doing the same. And he discusses what Obama and business leaders should expect in 2009, some of which is actually good news -- though most of it isn’t.

Will Social Entrepreneurship Save the World?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Lieutenant General Russel Honoré (retired), best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force -- Katrina, explains how the application of business and charitable principles can give people around the globe what they need most: a good job.

The Power of Two

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You are built for collaborating and for forming productive and meaningful partnerships. You actually acquired this trait from your ancestors. But chances are, you’re not making the most of your many opportunities to partner more effectively at work.

Your Organization’s Survival Plan

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Amid this economic crisis, severe budget cutting is inevitable and has already begun in many organizations. But when it comes to figuring out where to make those cuts, think long and hard before you act. According to three top Gallup management experts, when the going gets tough, high-performing companies actually double down their investments in people.

Who Needs a Palin or a Biden?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:00:00 GMT

So Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his VP nominee, and John McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Big deal. Why should executives care? Well, studying these tickets (and others) reveals many do’s and don’ts for your own business partnerships.

Investors and Consumers: Don't Panic

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The stock market remains volatile, and credit markets have been frozen. The question is: Will the panic move from Wall Street to main street -- and if it does, will it make a bad economic situation worse? Two esteemed economists and a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist argue that cooler heads should -- and really must -- prevail.

How Banks Can Rebuild Customer Confidence

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Headlines notwithstanding, the outlook for banks is hardly all gloom and doom. “It will get better -- it just takes time for things to right themselves,” says Gallup’s chief economist. He and a financial services expert explain how banks can turn things around.

MBA Stands for Mexico’s Business Accelerator

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT

With the enthusiastic support of Puebla’s governor, this Mexican state’s university for economic development is using an innovative MBA program to create a cadre of business leaders.

Tough Talk About Crisis Management

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Few people know more about leadership in crisis than Lieutenant General Russel Honoré, who headed the U.S. military’s response to Hurricane Katrina. In this interview, he offers well-tested, blunt advice for executives facing a bad situation -- how to set priorities, talk to the media, and communicate within the organization -- that can keep a crisis from devolving into a disaster.

Making Sense of China

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The factors that motivate China’s executives and workers are no different from those that motivate any executive or any worker. So says Zhang Zhixue, an expert on Chinese business, who thinks Westerners are needlessly perplexed by China.

Where Are the Leaders in Government?

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:45:00 GMT

In this candid interview, a former CIA executive tells how bureaucracy and hierarchy undermine leadership and what can be done to create the government we need now.