Monthly Archives: October 2010

This post is part of an HBR Spotlight examining leadership lessons from the military. Today’s leaders are continually cajoled to act as “outside-the-box” thinkers. Such pronouncements give the impression the only sound solutions are ones never previously conceived. However, what … Continue reading →

John Kotter, emeritus professor at Harvard Business School, outlines four common attacks and explains the best ways to defend against them. He is the author of Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down.

In any large enterprise, innovation presents an inherent challenge because, overwhelmingly, the processes, structures, and resources that guide people’s actions are optimized for the work that must be done well today. Healthcare organizations in particular must focus relentlessly on achieving … Continue reading →

You and your team want this prospect’s business. They’d be great clients. Your proposal is excellent. The team can’t wait to pitch. But just before you present, your prospect has one small request… They want you all to take a … Continue reading →

The debate over the importance of the physical in light of technological advances and increased mobility and transportation options is not new. Is technology making the world flatter as Thomas Friedman argues? Or is the world getting spikier, as Richard … Continue reading →

Microsoft recently announced that Ray Ozzie, its Chief Software Architect and a sage of the high tech world, is leaving the company. On his way out the door, he wrote a public memo titled “Dawn of a New Day”. I … Continue reading →

“Ugh!” I put my hands on my head and looked away from my computer at the ceiling. “I can’t do this! It’s just not coming out right!” My wife, Eleanor, looked over sympathetically from the desk next to mine; she … Continue reading →

This post is part of an HBR Spotlight examining leadership lessons from the military. Who is the most “clutch” person you know? That’s the question I always get when I talk about how people succeed under pressure. My answer is … Continue reading →

Reminiscent of the Yippies of yesteryear, we now have a new breed of activists: The Yes Men. But these are Yippies on steroids — and they represent a new and potent social media challenge to corporate reputations. The Yes Men … Continue reading →

Triggered by the upcoming mid-term elections, President Obama is assessing his change strategy, shuffling his leadership team, and getting ready for the next two years of his administration. If we put aside the political cacophony that accompanies this process, and … Continue reading →