<form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="the-three-foundations-of-a-great-life-great-leadership-and-a-great-organization?item=the-three-foundations-of-a-great-life-great-leadership-and-a-great-organization" id="aspnetForm">
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" id="MSOWebPartPage_PostbackSource" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" id="MSOTlPn_SelectedWpId" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_View" id="MSOTlPn_View" value="0" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" id="MSOTlPn_ShowSettings" value="False" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" id="MSOGallery_SelectedLibrary" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOGallery_FilterString" id="MSOGallery_FilterString" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOTlPn_Button" id="MSOTlPn_Button" value="none" />
<input type="hidden" name="__REQUESTDIGEST" id="__REQUESTDIGEST" value="noDigest" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_DisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_ExitingDesignMode" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" id="MSOWebPartPage_Shared" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" id="MSOLayout_LayoutChanges" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" id="MSOLayout_InDesignMode" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_OldDisplayModeName" value="Browse" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_StartWebPartEditingName" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" id="MSOSPWebPartManager_EndWebPartEditing" value="false" />
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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" />

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var MSOWebPartPageFormName = 'aspnetForm';
var g_presenceEnabled = true;var _fV4UI=true;var _spPageContextInfo = {webServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", webLanguage: 1033, currentLanguage: 1033, webUIVersion:4,pageListId:"{229a3fa1-d23f-4194-af04-83f712f16168}",pageItemId:24, alertsEnabled:true, siteServerRelativeUrl: "\u002f", allowSilverlightPrompt:'True'};//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/_layouts/1033/init.js?rev=mdjxRHK1V7KZ%2BuOTcNNcmQ%3D%3D"></script>
<script src="/WebResource.axd?d=KzYTxvKcuTEp7j51joTea5GVr92AuJ4SL5aQ9QUnLuUrG7rTi8YCbgNYedMwdv6fDwv5Ou7X64HliGCav7hiwmuBylh2hjGhv6JU0lkokc63lAPUBD0MIaMGwGty9ueA82idlgs7ktVQj8-X5TCDW8nNPkA1&t=636767462854137053" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var dlc_fvsi = {"DefaultViews":[],"ViewUrls":[],"WebUrl":"\/"};//]]>
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
function _spNavigateHierarchy(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type) {
    CoreInvoke('ProcessDefaultNavigateHierarchy', nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, document.forms.aspnetForm, "", "\u002fitem\u002fthe-three-foundations-of-a-great-life-great-leadership-and-a-great-organization");

}
//]]>
</script>
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="7BAFC84E" />
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.core.js?rev=7ByNlH\u00252BvcgRJg\u00252BRCctdC0w\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.res.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252ERes\u0026rev=b6\u00252FcRx1a6orhAQ\u00252FcF\u00252B0ytQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.dialog.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ui.dialog.js?rev=Tpcmo1\u00252FSu6R0yewHowDl5g\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.ui.dialog.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("core.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fcore.js?rev=RiGU6\u00252FvAzNgOjxKFQLw9pw\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _spFormDigestRefreshInterval = 1440000;window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded = new Date(); window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.setDate(window.g_updateFormDigestPageLoaded.getDate() -5);function loadMDN2() { EnsureScript('MDN.js', typeof(loadFilterFn), null); }
function loadMDN1() { ExecuteOrDelayUntilScriptLoaded(loadMDN2, 'sp.ribbon.js'); }
_spBodyOnLoadFunctionNames.push('loadMDN1');//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.runtime.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.runtime.js?rev=IGffcZfunndj0247nOxKVg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.runtime.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.js?rev=\u00252B4ZEyA892P3T0504qi0paw\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.ui.dialog.js");RegisterSodDep("sp.js", "sp.res.resx");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("cui.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fcui.js?rev=OOyJv78CADNBeet\u00252FvTvniQ\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("inplview", "\u002f_layouts\u002finplview.js?rev=WB6Gy8a027aeNCq7koVCUg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("inplview", "sp.js");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("ribbon", "\u002f_layouts\u002fsp.ribbon.js?rev=F\u00252BUEJ66rbXzSvpf7nN69wQ\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.res.resx");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("ribbon", "inplview");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("sp.ui.policy.resources.resx", "\u002f_layouts\u002fScriptResx.ashx?culture=en\u00252Dus\u0026name=SP\u00252EUI\u00252EPolicy\u00252EResources\u0026rev=YhBHGmUAGyJ3lAgSdE4V\u00252Fw\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("mdn.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002fmdn.js?rev=gwmFFJ2\u00252FfFacqXWAqG\u00252FqKg\u00253D\u00253D");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.core.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.runtime.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "cui.js");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "ribbon");RegisterSodDep("mdn.js", "sp.ui.policy.resources.resx");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[

function _spNavigateHierarchyEx(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type, additionalQString) {
    SetAdditionalNavigateHierarchyQString(additionalQString);
    g_originalSPNavigateFunc(nodeDiv, dataSourceId, dataPath, url, listInContext, type);
}

g_originalSPNavigateFunc = _spNavigateHierarchy;
_spNavigateHierarchy = _spNavigateHierarchyEx;
var _fV4UI = true;//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("msstring.js", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fmsstring.js?rev=QtiIcPH3HV7LgVSO7vONFg\u00253D\u00253D");</script><script type="text/javascript">RegisterSod("browserScript", "\u002f_layouts\u002f1033\u002fnon_ie.js?rev=EVTj1bu32\u00252FMla6SDN\u00252FsNTA\u00253D\u00253D");</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var __wpmExportWarning='This Web Part Page has been personalized. As a result, one or more Web Part properties may contain confidential information. Make sure the properties contain information that is safe for others to read. After exporting this Web Part, view properties in the Web Part description file (.WebPart) by using a text editor such as Microsoft Notepad.';var __wpmCloseProviderWarning='You are about to close this Web Part.  It is currently providing data to other Web Parts, and these connections will be deleted if this Web Part is closed.  To close this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';var __wpmDeleteWarning='You are about to permanently delete this Web Part.  Are you sure you want to do this?  To delete this Web Part, click OK.  To keep this Web Part, click Cancel.';//]]>
</script>
</form>

Skip to Main Content

28 Jul 2011Working Paper Summaries

The Three Foundations of a Great Life, Great Leadership, and a Great Organization

by Michael C. Jensen

This is the commencement speech that HBS professor Michael Jensen delivered to the 2011 graduates of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Drawing from his own experiences, he discusses the three foundations of a great personal life, great leadership, and a great organization. Those three foundations are integrity, authenticity, and being committed to something bigger than oneself. Key concepts include:

As integrity declines, workability declines. As workability declines, value (or more generally, the opportunity for performance) declines.
The actionable pathway to authenticity is to be authentic about your inauthenticities.
Being committed to something bigger than oneself is the source of both personal and corporate passion and energy.

Author Abstract

I argue here that the three factors my co-authors and I identify as constituting the foundation for being a leader and the effective exercise of leadership can also be seen as the foundations not only for great leadership, but also for a high quality personal life and an extraordinary organization. One can see this as a "value free" approach to values because, 1) integrity as we define it (being whole and complete) is a purely positive proposition, 2) authenticity is also a purely positive proposition (being and acting consistent with who you hold yourself out to be for others and who you hold yourself to be for yourself), and 3) being committed to something bigger than oneself is also a purely positive proposition (that says nothing about what that commitment should be other than it be bigger than oneself).

Paper Information

Full Working Paper Text
Working Paper Publication Date: May 2011
HBS Working Paper Number: 11-122
Faculty Unit(s): Negotiation, Organizations & Markets

Trending

- 14 Sep 2020
- Research & Ideas
You're Right! You Are Working Longer and Attending More Meetings
- 17 May 2017
- Research & Ideas
Minorities Who 'Whiten' Job Resumes Get More Interviews
- 13 Jul 2020
- Research & Ideas
Merck CEO Ken Frazier Discusses a COVID Cure, Racism, and Why Leaders Need to Walk the Talk
- 25 Feb 2019
- Research & Ideas
How Gender Stereotypes Kill a Woman’s Self-Confidence
- 10 Sep 2020
- Research & Ideas
The COVID Two-Step for Leaders: Protect and Pivot

Michael C. Jensen

Michael C. Jensen

Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus

Contact

→ More Articles

Find Related Articles

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Interested in improving your business? Learn about fresh research and ideas from Harvard Business School faculty.