Situational Leadership

Withstand a CEO’s wrath–and win

January 17, 2017
By admitting failure and committing to a better outcome next time, Brian Hasenbauer earned a CEO’s respect.

Rising Cub star’s home run was just the beginning

December 23, 2016
Part of what makes Dexter Fowler such a leader is his understanding that his heroics in Game 7 of the World Series were not the end of it—only the beginning.

How to follow behind a ‘best boss ever’

May 20, 2016

Once you snag that gig of a lifetime, with a compelling mission and great staff, you may discover that the leader who came before you ranked right up there with God. Here’s how to deal with it.

Amazon’s marketing worked: Here’s why

September 23, 2015

Want to gain customer input as you design a product? Some managers convene focus groups to find out what customers want. Not so fast, says Bernhard Schroeder, a San Diego-based marketing expert. He thinks focus groups are overrated.

33-year-old underdog stages PR coup

August 20, 2015
What do you do if you run a small company and you’re looking to grab market share from a dominant rival? Try staging a PR stunt.

When in Japan … mind your P’s & Q’s

May 29, 2015
Tipping can be seen as insulting in Japan; people will chase you to return your money. What else should you know before heading over?

Hire for agility in learning

March 12, 2015

Change happens so fast that you can’t rely on experience or academics for what you’ll need on the job. This is why Michael Trusty, an executive at Rolls-Royce, looks for employees who show agility in learning.

Build winner with run-and-gun strategy

August 6, 2014
Whitey Herzog, winner of a World Series as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, understood one of the most overlooked aspects of leadership: Make the best of what you’ve got.

Nelson Mandela’s balancing act

May 9, 2014
Reporters who covered Nelson Mandela never doubted his courage, vision or greatness of spirit, but some felt his eulogies elevated him to sainthood, overlooking his practical side.

When leaders need to be boring

October 26, 2012
Stanford professor Bob Sutton regards leadership as an expression of comedy and tragedy. For instance, he has said that good leaders know when to be boring, vague, emotionally detached and authoritarian. In a recent interview, he was asked when boredom might be desirable.