Leadership

The Next Generation of Leadership

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The most successful leaders in the future will understand their constituencies’ state of mind, says Gallup CEO Jim Clifton. And state of mind is everything that matters to leadership: talent, innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, optimism, determination, and all the other things that create economic growth.

Making Green While Going Green

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Visionary CEO Ray Anderson, who proudly boasts the moniker “radical industrialist,” says it’s imperative that we save the environment -- but business, not government, must take the lead. In this interview, Anderson explains how other companies can do what his business has done.

The Business of Sustainability

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

At age 60, visionary CEO Ray Anderson, author of Confessions of a Radical Industrialist, decided to move his company toward environmental sustainability. He’s proving that it’s possible to do well -- very well -- by doing good. In this interview, he tells how.

Leadership: Preparing for an Uncertain Future

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:00:00 GMT

By investing in leadership development, ALJ Saudi Arabia automotive has been thriving amid the financial crisis. But its success isn’t the product of chance or serendipity. ALJ has been preparing for the worst as well as the best for several years, writes a top company executive.

Delivering Difficult Decisions

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:30:00 GMT

When leaders must deliver bad news, employees’ first response usually isn’t coolly rational; it’s emotional. Those most affected by bad news want more from their leaders than the cold hard facts. They want to know that their leaders care.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.