In this engaging conversation, Bill George, a Harvard Business School professor and former Medtronic CEO, discusses the importance of honest communication in leadership. He shares a time-tested method to create an environment where leaders feel safe expressing their true thoughts. Bill emphasizes self-reflection and community building for effective leadership. He also highlights the need for intentional planning to enhance team effectiveness and the role of psychological safety to foster trust and open dialogue within groups.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Self-Leadership & Support
Know yourself through self-awareness, values, and finding your sweet spot.
Build a strong support team and integrate all aspects of your life, not just work, for better leadership.
insights INSIGHT
Zuckerberg's Leadership Gaps
Mark Zuckerberg's struggles at Meta are linked to undeveloped leadership skills and an inward focus.
Leaders can fall into the "adulation trap," measuring self-worth by external validation like followers or net worth.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Daily Reflection and Relationships
Reflect daily for at least 20 minutes without electronics; meditate, walk, pray, or simply be present.
Nurture your personal and professional relationships, as they are essential for a well-rounded life.
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In 'True North', Jill Ker Conway continues her autobiography, detailing her experiences from her arrival in the United States in 1960 to her appointment as the first female president of Smith College in 1975. The book explores her academic pursuits at Harvard, her role as a public figure for feminism, and her personal challenges, including her husband's health issues.
Essentialism
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Greg McKeown
In 'Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,' Greg McKeown argues that by applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, individuals can regain control of their time and energy. The book is divided into sections such as Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, providing practical advice on distinguishing the vital few from the trivial many and eliminating non-essential activities. McKeown emphasizes the importance of clarity of focus, the ability to say 'no,' and living 'by design, not by default.' This approach helps readers achieve more by doing less and making the highest possible contribution in their personal and professional lives.
Effortless
Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
Greg McKeown
In 'Effortless', Greg McKeown offers practical tools and strategies for achieving more with less effort. The book is organized into three parts: the effortless state, effortless action, and effortless results. McKeown argues that not everything has to be hard and provides methods for turning tedious tasks into enjoyable rituals, preventing frustration, setting a sustainable pace, and automating essential tasks. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of finding easier ways to accomplish what matters most, rather than perpetually overexerting oneself[1][2][5].
Have you ever felt unsafe to share what you really think? Have you ever felt disoriented, lost, or muddled as a result of that? For some people, founders, professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, this problem grows as we advance in our careers. As our responsibilities increase, the number of people we can speak to openly decrease. What would happen if you could hard wire a solution to this problem into your routine? Today, I've invited Bill George to the show to coach us to this better solution. Bill is a businessman and an academic. He's the professor of management practice at the Harvard Business School. He previously served as chairman and also as CEO at Medtronic. He's the author of a new book, True North, but as you'll hear, we took a deep dive into a practice Bill has had in place for 50 years. By the end of this episode, you will have a specific solution that Bill has used for 50 years in order to create space to be heard, to be understood as you move up the ladder of success.
The Greg McKeown Podcast 
