Honoring Charles Handy: Wisdom on Innovation, Leadership, and Life

In this episode, we pay tribute to the late Charles Handy, an influential philosopher, storyteller, and thought leader. The host re-releases a special episode recorded at Handy's London home following his stroke. Despite his condition, Handy remained impressively positive, attributing his enhanced creativity to his impairment. He shares profound insights on various concepts like the 'white stone,' 'citizenship within organizations,' and his famous 'shamrock organization.' Handy emphasizes the importance of making changes before they become critical and inspires with his reflections on challenging orthodoxy, dreaming big, and understanding leadership versus management. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on how to navigate and innovate in both personal and organizational spheres.

00:00 Remembering Charles Handy

01:33 Introduction to the Second Curve

02:37 The Concept of the Second Curve

04:32 Davy's Bar and the Importance of Change

09:50 Personal Stories and Life Lessons

18:54 The Three Selves and Identity

36:03 Leadership vs. Management

39:56 The Shamrock Organization

42:13 Citizenship in Organizations

45:36 Efficiency vs. Effectiveness

48:31 The Donut Theory

54:52 Final Thoughts and Legacy

JAMA: 2008-05-28, Vol. 299, No. 20, This Week's Audio Commentary