Years ago Warren Bennis told me a story me about his search for a secret ingredient in successfully leading a great symphony orchestra. After many interviews and observations a player told him about one world famous conductor, "We put up with many of his quirky behaviors, but he never wastes...

At a recent gathering of business leader at an annual global forum organized by the Global Executive Learning Network, I was invited to give a talk on future leadership. Here is a distillation of the conversation that ensued:

When Paradox of Success was first released in 1994 I assumed we...

President Obama is learning early on that it's leadership, stupid! It's all about finding and assembling a great team and leading them, helping them to develop their own "bully pulpits."

In my work I listen to stories of leadership failure day after day. We are witnessing an epidemic of...

There is an art to advising leaders. It involves timing, trust, and tone. Careful listening is required to get these three artistic elements just right. The old saw that it is lonely at the top is just wrong. It's crowded. Advisors of all stripes flock to guide the new leader....

Over the years I have seen far too many enterprises and leaders fail because they didn't understand how leadership development and strategy must work together. They turn to experts who have "fish to fry" in either leadership development or strategy. Good leaders defend against narrow-gauge advisers by creating a clear...

Whenever a nation is wounded a healer is called for. Any social culture can become sick or hurt--a family, business, or an entire country--and as we stand right now, our American culture has been badly damaged on many fronts. Folks are angry, frustrated, properly frightened or in various stages of...

Selecting leaders is one very big aspect of the survival of the species. Biologists never tire of studying the methods employed by various species in selecting leaders. One tried and true method is for alpha males to beat each other up. Group leadership on the other hand employs subtle signals...