This year’s three best business books on leadership are fresh, persuasive, and arresting. Rooted in experience and rigorous data, new work by Sam Walker, Chris Fussell and Susan David supports a timeless and intuitive truth: that excellence is defined by the human values of flexibility, humility, and the courage.
It’s All Cass Sunstein’s Default
Constitutional and administrative law professor Cass Sunstein believes that with a little intervention, we can all have the freedom to choose wisely. Over the years he has brought his insights of behavioral science into the realms of law, public policy, and regulation.
Helping Women Leaders Plot their Next Career Move
In the fall of 2017, twenty senior women gathered for a weekend retreat in Manhattan to discuss their upcoming career transitions. Several had worked for the government, others were from the private sector. All had just retired or were planning to do so. Eager to put their lifetime of skills to work, they had come together for a program called Mission: Getting to Next (MGTN).
Best Business Books 2016: Talent & Leadership
This year’s best business books help to answer the question, “Is leadership an art or science?” While more studies and data improve our understanding of leaders and leadership, has it improved leadership quality? These three books offer answers to these questions and provide insights that are relevant to our everyday lives.
The Organization Man and Woman
According to a survey featured recently in the Financial Times, women view workplace culture as the chief impediment to their careers. What does this mean and what can companies do in response? How do values, motivation and reward factor in?
Hugh Herr Wants to Build a More Perfect Human
Computer scientist, mechanical engineer, and biophysicist Hugh Herr and his team create superior prosthetics that respond to subtle neural commands. A double amputee himself, Herr benefits from the improved functionality and fit while improving the lives and outlook of others around the world.
What Hiring Committees Can Learn from the NFL Draft
Professor Steven Whiting of the University of Florida and Professor Timothy Maynes of the University of Buffalo wanted to know if organizational citizenship correlates with performance. And if so, should it be a factor when considering a job applicant?
Younger and Wiser
When Paul Smurl left his job as Attorney and Management Consultant to become president and COO of Some Spider, he knew he’d need to acquire new skills and a new way to look at things. A mentor about half his age seemed like the answer. Here he describes his successful and fulfilling experience finding and building a relationship with Kareem Rahma.
Say it Loud
Are women hindered in advancing up the career ladder because they don’t articulate their desire and expectations for promotion? “There are guys here who have been saying ‘I’m awesome’ ever since they got here, so people start believing it’s true.”
What Gets You Up in the Morning?
Optimism and an eagerness to seize opportunities can be a far more useful source of executive inspiration than fear. “If jobs don’t give people the opportunity to fulfill these basic needs, many employees will leave — and the best are often the first to go.”
Buzzwords We Can Believe In
Popular buzz words and buzz phrases of the day can tell us a lot about workplace conditions. Often, they are brought to fore by the realities of the times. What do today’s buzz words of empathy and mindfulness tell us about our own working conditions?
We Don’t Need Another Hero CEO
What is the most important factor contributing to an organization’s ability to thrive? Is it the risk-taking Hero CEO or collaborative teams? Financial Times columnist Herminia Ibarra traces the divide between manager and leader to Abraham Zaleznik.
Role Model Behavior
Role models are particularly important to women. For those who aspire to leadership positions, role models demonstrate that such aspirations are possible. Yet when women are routinely criticized for poor work-life balance decisions, this can compound the guilt they are already likely to feel.
Meritocracy without the Numbers
The move away from rigid performance reviews is an encouraging trend that began in Silicon Valley. However, no consensus has emerged as to what should replace it. The biggest concern appears to be that any new system will make the existing organization less meritocratic.
Frances Hesselbein’s Merit Badge in Leadership
As CEO of The Girl Scouts, Frances Hesselbein transformed the organization from a venerable but relatively staid institution promoting civic and homemaking skills into a vibrant, diverse one that emphasizes leadership, science, technology, and math. Who does she credit with her inspiration? Peter Drucker.
The Business Beat
Law enforcement organizations and leaders of large corporations don’t often look to each other for ways to improve company culture. Yet in this case, corporate leaders could learn a thing or two from those who patrol the streets. John Katzenback theorizes that the success of the “broken windows” approach to reducing urban crime could provide some valuable lessons.
The Farewell Address
What is the best way to respond when a colleague announces that they’re moving on? Bill Wiersma offers his professional advice on how you should handle this awkward and sometimes painful situation.
Papal Pull
Pope Francis’s efforts to transform the Catholic Church show how those at the top can grapple with a bureaucracy while exemplifying spiritual leadership.
Thinking Out Loud
A high-profile Silicon Valley sex discrimination trial hinged in part on a thorny question: What is thought leadership? I spoke with magazine editor to Joel Kurtzman, author Jim Kouzes, and professor of leadership and learning Herminia Ibarra for their thoughts on this subject.
At Most Tech Firms, the C-Suite is Still a Boy’s Club
Many organizations are devoting more resources to attracting and retaining women with leadership potential. Then why are we seeing many of these women leave prematurely, step off the leadership track, and not progress as quickly or high as was hoped?
The Mother of All Off-Sites
Skilled leaders inspire people to open themselves to new and challenging experiences. René Redzepi, owner and chef of Noma, did just that when he moved his entire staff of 66, from waiters to line cooks, to a restaurant he opened temporarily in Tokyo, Japan. The lessons he learned are instructive to leaders of all kinds.