Leadership Development

After you make the wrong call

July 9, 2010

Some mistakes are memorable not because they provide pyrotechnics but because they show character. Case in point: Major league umpire Jim Joyce this summer made the most important call of his career, and it was wrong. His mistake cost Detroit’s pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. After reviewing the video, Joyce immediately admitted that he’d blown the call.

Stephen Hawking: ahead of his time

July 9, 2010

Having written best-sellers about the origin of the universe and the meaning of time, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is arguably one of the world’s most famous scientists. Yet, he’s never won a Nobel Prize. Why?

Is the Internet dumbing you down?

July 9, 2010
You may remember a stir about two years ago over whether the Internet is “making us stupid.” Now that question is being explored in long form, through a book that looks into the issue. And a book is just the point.

Deepwater disaster: Who’s in charge?

July 9, 2010
Heads-up when you hear arguments about who’s in charge. That means no one’s in charge … The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in April points to more than a pile of ad hoc exceptions to safety rules. It also points to an epic failure of leadership. Who was in charge: BP, the well’s owner, or Transocean, the rig’s owner?

Leadership Tips: Vol. 710

June 14, 2010
Think meditation is “too soft” for hard-core leaders? Think again. The U.S. Navy teaches “holistic leadership” … Make wise use of limited new-hire funds by screening interviewees with this question: “What’s the toughest feedback you’ve ever received and how did you learn from it?” … Brainstorming sessions may not be the best way to generate the best ideas …

Is it time to reorder your thinking?

June 14, 2010
New research shows that middle-age minds can stay sharp—and keep getting sharper—if their owners give themselves mental challenges. One important way to keep your brain cells hopping is to challenge your assumptions. That’s easier said than done—especially now, when it’s so easy for anyone to retreat into a community of like-minded people. But if you want to stay on top, you must.

Why we need an MBA oath

June 14, 2010
You may have heard about the MBA oath. It was created by a couple of Harvard Business School students and has spread to business school campuses around the world, leading to a book on the topic. If the MBA oath were to cause even a few leaders to stand up and say out loud how they intend to conduct themselves, then it would be worth the effort of writing and promoting it.

A word to the wise on enforcing rules

June 14, 2010

Part of being a leader is the ability to sort the important from the unimportant. Case in point: U.S. Army generals’ tolerance of Harvey Gough, a colorful Texan whose patriotism and generosity are exceeded only by his tendency to flout the rules.

A credibility lesson from Yogi Berra

June 14, 2010

When Yogi Berra says, “He hits from both sides of the plate; he’s amphibious,” it’s funny. When you use the wrong word in your communication, it can cripple your credibility. Here are four common wording errors to avoid:

If you call them, will they come?

June 14, 2010
Robert Bruner, dean of the University of Virginia’s business school, offers these answers on what it takes for leaders to draw followers: moral authority, a credible plan—and the loudest megaphone.