
- 24 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
These Coronavirus Heroes Show Us How Crisis Leadership Works
Now is the time for leaders to inspire their organizations to help the world through the COVID-19 crisis. Bill George has a list of authentic leaders who are up to the challenge. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 24 Apr 2018
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: What Mark Zuckerberg Can Learn About Crisis Leadership from Starbucks
Starbucks and Facebook present a contrast in crisis leadership, says Bill George. While Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson stepped up to take responsibility and met with victims, Mark Zuckerberg delayed action and side-stepped responsibility. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 12 Mar 2018
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Why BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Is Not a Socialist
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s open letter to CEOs has reignited the “shareholders versus stakeholders” debate. Bill George says it's actually not much of a debate: mission-driven, values-centered companies perform better. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 22 Jan 2018
- Sharpening Your Skills
Why You Are Unhappy at Work
Sometimes the deck is stacked against you at work. Learn more about how you can overcome toxic co-workers, paycheck blues, and a job set up for failure. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 12 Jan 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Leadership Lessons from a Young Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a young man, Martin Luther King, Jr. was unsure about his future as a leader of a social change. Bill George explains how King grew to become one of the most powerful civil rights leaders in history. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 18 Aug 2017
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Courageous Leader Triggers a Moral Revolt of CEOs Against Trump
CEOs are responsible to uphold their company’s mission and values, says Bill George. When these values are violated, even by the president of the United States, they are obliged to take a clear stand. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 17 Jul 2017
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: As America Recedes from Global Leadership, Its CEOs are Stepping Up
CEOs and other business leaders are speaking loud and clear on global issues of monumental importance, says Bill George. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

- 24 Apr 2017
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Courage: The Defining Characteristic of Great Leaders
Courageous leaders inspire employees, energize customers, and position their companies on the front lines of societal change. Bill George explains why there aren't more of them. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Feb 2017
- Research & Ideas
A Strategy For Steady Leadership in an Unsteady World
Management is tough enough in normal times. But what are leaders to do when their companies are buffeted by global uncertainty? Bill George explains charting a course True North. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jul 2016
- Research & Ideas
The Truth About Authentic Leaders
Is "Be yourself" terrible advice for a leader? Bill George, the creator of the "authentic leadership" approach to management, answers critics and outlines the path for executives to be more effective. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Nov 2015
- Op-Ed
Authentic Leadership Rediscovered
Is becoming an "authentic leader" just an excuse for practicing a rigid management style? Bill George, who pioneered the idea, says critics don't understand what really constitutes an authentic leader. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Jun 2014
- Research & Ideas
Fixing the ‘I Hate Work’ Blues
Many employees report they are overworked and not engaged—a recent New York Times article on the phenomenon was titled, "Why You Hate Work." The problem, says Bill George, is that the way we design work stifles engagement. Here's the fix. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 25 Oct 2012
- Research & Ideas
Developing the Global Leader
The shift from a country-centric company to one more global in its outlook will have a radical impact on leadership development, says Professor of Management Practice William George. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 18 Jul 2012
- Research & Ideas
Penn State Lesson: Today’s Cover-Up was Yesterday’s Opportunity
While leaders may rationalize that a cover-up protects the interests of their organizations, the inevitable damage harms their institutions far more than acknowledging a mistake, says professor Bill George. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 03 Jul 2012
- Research & Ideas
HBS Faculty on Supreme Court Health Care Ruling
We asked three Harvard Business School faculty members, all experts in the health care field, to provide their views on various facets of one of this country's most important and complex problems. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Sep 2011
- Research & Ideas
The Power of Leadership Groups for Staying on Track
Twenty-first-century organizations are breaking with traditional command-and-control hierarchies to develop a new generation of values-centered leadership, argues Professor Bill George, author of True North. The best way to get there? True North Groups. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jun 2011
- Research & Ideas
Why Leaders Lose Their Way
Bill George discusses how powerful people lose their moral bearings. To stay grounded executives must prepare themselves to confront enormous complexities and pressures. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 27 Dec 2010
- Research & Ideas
HBS Faculty on 2010’s Biggest Business Developments
Three Harvard Business School professors—former Medtronic chairman and CEO Bill George, economist and entrepreneurship expert William Sahlman, and innovation and strategy authority Rosabeth Moss Kanter—offer their thoughts on the most significant business and economic developments of 2010. Key concepts include: Social networking is the most significant business development of 2010, says Bill George, noting that some 600 million people are now active on Facebook—and half of them spend at least an hour per day on the site. The problems of the Great Recession continued to dominate the economy in 2010, according to Bill Sahlman, who says that the popular media have grossly underestimated both the current deficit and level of debt in the United States. Rosabeth Kanter points out that new technology shined in 2010, in spite of the world's economic anxieties. She gives kudos to the Apple iPad, which accelerated the trend toward digital content. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Sep 2010
- Research & Ideas
Mindful Leadership: When East Meets West
Harvard Business School professor William George is fusing Western understanding about leadership with Eastern wisdom about the mind to develop leaders who are self-aware and self-compassionate. An interview about his recent Mindful Leadership conference taught with a Buddhist meditation master. Key concepts include: People who are mindful—fully present and aware—can become more effective leaders. Leaders with low emotional intelligence often lack self-awareness and self-compassion, which can lead to a lack of self-regulation. Authenticity is developed by becoming more self-aware and having compassion for oneself. Group support provides nonjudgmental feedback in order to recognize blind spots, accept shortcomings, and gain confidence. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.
What Went Wrong with the Boeing 737 Max?
How did the evolution of Boeing’s organization and management lead up to two tragic plane crashes—the crash of Lion Air flight 610 on October 29, 2018, in Indonesia, and the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on March 9, 2019, in Ethiopia—in which a total of 346 people died? What role did cost cutting, FAA pressure, and CEO succession play in laying the foundation for this tragedy? Professor Bill George discusses the long roots that ultimately led to two tragic Boeing 737 Max crashes, and examines the response of Boeing executives to the crisis in his case, “What Went Wrong with Boeing's 737 Max?” Open for comment; 0 Comments.