Leadership

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.

The Five Stages of Workplace "Tribes"

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:45:00 GMT

Two researchers say that your tribe is more important than anything else at work. Here's how companies can harness the power of that insight to understand and influence team performance.

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.

News Flash: Money Does Buy Happiness

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Economist Angus Deaton thinks so -- or at least, money can buy you a more valued life. But he also believes a focus on happiness may do more harm than good, particularly in emerging countries. He also wonders if foreign aid -- both social and financial -- to emerging countries might be harmful. Read this very provocative conversation.

The Business Value of Niceness

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Upscale clothier Jack Mitchell, author of the bestseller Hug Your Customers and CEO of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs, explains his infectiously enthusiastic approach to management in his latest book, Hug Your People. In this interview, Mitchell tells why positivity is good for productivity and profits.

Small Companies, Big Results in Mexico

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Globalization has inspired this fascinating turn of events: The type of management science usually reserved for large, multinational companies is starting to be applied to small businesses in Mexico -- and it's boosting bottom lines. Find out how.

Toyota Tackles an Audacious Goal

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

George Borst, president and CEO of Toyota Financial Services, had a daring plan for leading TFS through an expansion of its customer base and product line. But that required transformation in every aspect of his organization -- new people, infrastructure, knowledge, and skills. Some of the changes offered fresh opportunities, but others presented big problems. What's more, the expansion required Borst to discover new methods of leadership. Here's how he successfully transformed his organization -- and, in the process, himself.

Are You the Decider?

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gerald Wagner has spent his career trying to understand decision making and decision makers. He has come to the conclusion that most businesspeople, in fact most people, don't understand the rules of cause and effect as they apply to decision making. But he thinks he knows how to fix that problem.

Global Migration Patterns and Job Creation

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gallup's World Poll, the first of its kind, reveals new findings on the "great global dream" and how it will affect the rise of the next economic empire. Jim Clifton, Gallup's chairman and CEO, offers an in-depth analysis of the study's implications for leaders.

Heard About Michigan's "Ritzy" New Hospital?

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When an acclaimed Ritz-Carlton executive was named president and CEO of a luxury hospital, it sure caught the attention of the healthcare industry. In this interview, Gerard van Grinsven explains his controversial appointment, how he'll keep his hospital's rates at or below average, and why he thinks his hotel-like hospital is the model that will be emulated in the future.

Investing in People

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Keith Skeoch, CEO of Standard Life Investments, argues that a company's human resources function is a value driver and creator. In fact, this executive doesn't even see it as HR -- he prefers the term "talent management." Find out why, and learn about his approach, in this interview.

Anticipating Failure -- Then Adapting to Succeed

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This company president's business was growing at a torrid pace -- so much so that it almost crashed and burned. So he and his team decided to slow that growth and focus on sustainability. Executives across a range of industries can learn from his experience.

The Business Benefits of Positive Leadership

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Do teams perform better for managers who apply positive leadership practices? Are they more engaged than those led by less-positive supervisors? Two researchers set out to tackle these questions. Here's what they discovered.

The Essence of Real Leadership

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

One-time Medtronic CEO Bill George, author of Authentic Leadership and True North, reveals the importance of self-awareness for leaders. In a wide-ranging interview, he also warns of the danger of equating power with leadership; tells how to deal with sharks; and reveals some things about coping with leadership that they don't teach you in business school -- but should.

Real Answers for Real Leaders

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The concept of "authentic leadership" has really caught on in the corporate world, particularly in the wake of the scandals at Enron, WorldCom, and other business giants. There's clearly a thirst for integrity in the boardroom, and no one knows more about authentic leadership than one-time Medtronic CEO Bill George. In this interview, George, author of Authentic Leadership and, more recently, True North, elaborates on his books and explains what he's discovered. He discusses what authentic leadership really is, the characteristics of great leaders, and how good leaders can lose their way and how they can come back -- and what happens if they don't.

Great Leadership Under Fire

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Following a drought and a disastrous harvest, farmer cooperative Auglaize Provico saw profits plummet. The losses were devastating and possibly fatal. But under the leadership of a persistent and visionary CEO, Larry Hammond, the co-op turned calamity into victory, and profits rebounded substantially. In fact, Hammond's small co-op, a remnant of 19th-century farming, achieved things that global mega-companies and trillion-dollar governments fail to do all the time. Here's how.

What the New Congress Means for Business

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With Nancy Pelosi & Co. taking over this month, Gallup's chief economist, Dennis Jacobe, predicts how changes in Washington will affect the business and investment climate, federal spending and the budget deficit, and trade policy and globalization. Jacobe also warns that executives should worry about what Congress will do about the "stealth issue" it will face in 2007.

How Ann Taylor Invests in Talent

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Does spending on workplace learning and development deliver measurable business results? Is employee education a "nice to have" for organizations, rather than an essential investment? The retailer Ann Taylor has been wrestling with these questions for some time. A leading executive there explains how the company has created a clear and measurable link between its investment in developing talent and its bottom-line business performance.

How The Ritz-Carlton Is Reinventing Itself

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Brand recognition alone doesn't keep hotel guests coming back, says Simon Cooper, chief operating officer and president of one of the world's most admired companies. In fact, that recognition is just the first step in a customer's journey toward engagement. In this candid interview, Cooper discusses how The Ritz-Carlton's fame can undermine its brand promise, how to train staff to be spontaneous, and why engagement is the company's key commodity.

Running a College Like a Business

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Drexel University's president does this. And this former Bechtel executive's tough, hard-nosed approach, gleaned from his years in the corporate world, offers lessons for other college heads as well as for industry leaders. His insights are sure to shake up the academy.

Start Finding Tomorrow's Leaders Now

Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Even as the oldest of the baby boomers near retirement, too many executive teams are neglecting to have thoughtful discussions about their leadership pipelines. Yet forward-thinking organizations know they need leaders and a leadership succession plan that deliver results.

Discovering How Your Future Leaders Think

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Want to ensure the success of your organization's future leaders? Then start asking them direct questions that, when answered, will help shape and define the type of leaders they will become.

Why Can't Women Be Leaders Too?

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

When companies overlook women for executive positions, they ignore a vast talent pool and undermine their profitability. So argues Robin Gerber, author of the newly released Katharine Graham: The Leadership Journey of an American Icon. In this interview, Gerber tells what overlooking women costs companies, what women bring to the boardroom table, and what women -- and men -- need to become truly great leaders.

Leaders Who Lead Leaders

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Great chief executives know how to motivate their senior managers and get superior performance from them. Here is what those leaders do differently.

Coaching: No More Mr. Nice Guy

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

The most effective executive coaches don't aim simply to make leaders feel good. Rather, they're blunt, and they focus relentlessly on measurable business performance.