Understanding Super-Spreading Events and Their Impact on Society

Malcolm Gladwell returns to On Leadership to discuss his journey as a multiple New York Times bestselling author, noting that it took years of hard work and constant engagement with readers before his first major book, The Tipping Point, became a huge success. He emphasizes that there is no such thing as "overnight success" - it requires patience, perseverance, and continually connecting with your audience where they’re at. Malcolm also shares insights from his new book Revenge of the Tipping Point, including the importance of understanding "superspreaders,” a small percentage of people who are responsible for the vast majority of the spread of ideas, behaviors, and even infectious diseases. This has important implications for how leaders and organizations approach driving change.

• The 80/20 Activity Analyzer: 80% of your results will come from 20% of your activities—are you focusing on the right ones?