Episode 43

Bill George: Reinvent your leadership authentically

Available on these channels and more

Bill George tells me that this is the most difficult time to be a leader he’s seen in his life, because they face major generational, political, societal shifts and challenges. The traditional command and control approach to leadership and management doesn’t work.

Instead, we need more authentic leaders that have a clearer, longer-term view of what it takes to make their organisation successful. Leaders who take a stand on important issues, particularly the issues their employees and customers care about. Leaders who act as coach more than manager, who tell the truth, are transparent, vulnerable, able to admit their mistakes. Organisations need younger leaders, especially those from the front line, closest to the action.

They should also encourage people to find their true north — their fundamental values and beliefs — as early as possible in their careers, and challenge people mid-career to revisit and refresh their perspective on them. Reflect on your life, the good and bad times, strip it back and ask yourself what you are here for, and what matters. Look to lead an integrated life, practising reflection on how well you show up, perform and align your own purpose to that of the organisation you work with​.

The best bits of these conversations are captured in my newsletter Strategic Leader.

More about Bill

Bill George is Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School (HBS), where he has taught leadership since 2004. He was chair and CEO of Medtronic, the world’s leading medical technology company. Under his leadership, Medtronic’s market capitalization grew from $1.1 billion to $60 billion, averaging 35% per year.

Earlier in his career, he was an executive with Honeywell and Litton Industries and served in the US Department of Defense. He has served as a director of Goldman Sachs, ExxonMobil, Novartis, Target, the Mayo Clinic and World Economic Forum USA.

“We need to flip the organization upside down and put our frontline people on top.”

Bill George, Executive Fellow, Harvard Business School

VIEW RUNNING ORDER

02.52 More difficult context.
04.12 Shift from emerging to established leaders.
05.25 Too much authenticity?
06.27 Overcoming inertia.
08.01 Surprises in the research.
09.12 Opening up the leadership.
10.42 Moral leadership.
13.08 Flipping from systemic to operational issues.
14.50 Developing your True North.
18.08 The formative role played by crucibles.
20.42 Missing mindsets and skill sets in leaders.
22.12 Leading an integrated life.
26.50 Aligning around a common vision.
29.23 CEOs as athletes.
30.43 His impact.
Pia Lauritzen: Connecting through questions

Pia Lauritzen: Connecting through questions

Frances Frei: Fixing hard problems fast

Frances Frei: Fixing hard problems fast

Aga Bajer: Cracking the code on culture

Aga Bajer: Cracking the code on culture

Holger Nils Pohl: Tackling complex problems using visual thinking

Holger Nils Pohl: Tackling complex problems using visual thinking

Paolo Gallo: Mastering your inner journey

Paolo Gallo: Mastering your inner journey

Herminia Ibarra: Mastering career transitions

Herminia Ibarra: Mastering career transitions

Alison Taylor: Taking the Higher Ground

Alison Taylor: Taking the Higher Ground

Morra Aarons-Mele: Turning anxiety into your superpower

Morra Aarons-Mele: Turning anxiety into your superpower

Neil Mullarkey: Communicating with improv

Neil Mullarkey: Communicating with improv

Share This