Thought leaders across the web

When people criticize you, what’s the best thing to do? Show up and face the music. President Barack Obama did just that when he met with Republican House members at their party conference last week in Baltimore. He met face-to-face with some of his sharpest critics, and in the process, demonstrated what it means to [...]

The announcement of Apple’s iPad is turning many people’s thoughts to the innovations behind big ideas. Innovations such as these play a critical role in a company’s future, but companies often hinder themselves by focusing on finding the next big thing, when in reality, the next small thing might be more beneficial. The more that [...]

If you want to succeed in 21st Century business you need to become a critical thinker. Roger Martin of the Rotman School of Management figured this out a decade ago and as dean, has been working to transform his school’s business curriculum with greater emphasis on critical thinking skills. As Lane Wallace explained in the [...]

With the recession forcing us to make do with what we have, being resourceful is now a necessary skill for today’s generation of leaders. It is not simply a matter of doing more with less — companies have preached this for at least a generation. Rather, what’s important is the realization that you can do [...]

What will you do to make a difference in your job this year? This is a variation on a question that Michigan Radio is asking citizens about how to make things better in 2010. Since Michigan is at the epicenter of the Great Recession, there is no shortage of suggestions about what to do differently. [...]

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King’s horses and All the King’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again. But maybe someone in human resources can! I was reminded of this nursery rhyme when I received a query from an HR manager seeking advice on how to help [...]

To bring people together around a common cause, it is critical that a leader be self aware. Jeff Immelt’s recent comments to the cadets at West Point reminded me of this fact. Immelt, CEO of General Electric, said he he’s learned lessons from the Great Recession that have made him “humbler and hungrier… I needed [...]

“We do have a conscious say in selecting the narrative we will use to make sense of the world,” writes New York Times columnist David Brooks. “Individual responsibility is contained in the act of selecting and constantly revising the master narrative we tell about ourselves.” Brooks’ explanation about choice of narrative can apply to leaders [...]

“It’s okay if other people think you’re God, but you’re in trouble if you start believing it.” David Cornwell, a sports attorney, recalled that quote as one uttered by his father, a surgeon. While Cornwell was speaking on Larry King Live about Tiger Woods’ foibles, the quote has relevance to anyone in a leadership position, [...]

I’ve heard executives say that they have never seen things as bad as they are now. Even as the economy shows signs of recovery, it is by no means certain that recovery will be a linear process. In these troubled times, it is useful to recall examples of leaders who have survived adversity. One of [...]