Monthly Archives: July 2010

Have you ever walked into an airport, seen that there is nobody in line at the check-in counter, but still made a bee-line for the self-service kiosk? Better yet, have you ever waited in line for an ATM machine even … Continue reading →

In psychology, the term “identified patient” refers to a family member — often a child or a teenager — who gets scapegoated for behavior that is actually just a predictable response to dealing with an unhealthy family. Tony Hayward is … Continue reading →

Some of our most creative non-fiction writers seem to have the brain on the brain at the moment. First there was Daniel Pink, the author of the best-selling Drive, who argued that the creative left-brained types will inherit the earth … Continue reading →

In psychology, the term “identified patient” refers to a family member — often a child or a teenager — who gets scapegoated for behavior that is actually just a predictable response to dealing with an unhealthy family. Tony Hayward is … Continue reading →

Before turning the page on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s all-too-hasty firing of Shirley Sherrod, let’s consider what leaders in the private sector can learn from the episode. Yes, Vilsack rushed to judgment. But why? No doubt the pressures of a … Continue reading →

It started at 4:30 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, last Saturday. The cell phone on my nightstand started ringing with a 336 area code. It was US Airways. “We’re sorry, but last night’s weather meant the crew got in late. Your … Continue reading →

Have you ever wondered whether you’re really making the best use of your time? Do you ever feel that too much of your day is spent on low-value activities that perhaps need to get done, but certainly don’t require your … Continue reading →

My friends at the Washington Post, where I’m a member of the newspaper’s “On Leadership” panel, posed a provocative question to the group that is perfect for the times in which we live. Here’s what the editors asked: “Tony Hayward, … Continue reading →

One of the most fundamental principles of power is that it is self-reinforcing. People with power have the resources to keep it — they are able to hire the best talent and access the best opportunities. More important, other people … Continue reading →

The CEO of a watchband manufacturer considers opening up a factory within a “safe zone” in North Korea, but is it too risky? This fictional case study will appear in a forthcoming issue of Harvard Business Review, along with commentary … Continue reading →