Bill George: 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis August 19, 2009

Overview:

Leaders Are Developed through Crises

The economic calamity of 2008-09 was not caused by subprime mortgages, credit default swaps, or even excessive greed. These are only symptoms of the real problem. The root cause of the problem was failed leadership from leaders who didn’t follow their True North--the internal compass of beliefs, values, and principles that guide you through life.

Staying on course is much easier when things are going well. But will you do so under the enormous pressure that comes with a crisis? Can you stay focused on your True North in the face of temptations tobend the rules to get through the crisis? How will you respond when threatened that everything you’ve been building for years might be destroyed?

In this dynamic and interactive session with Bill George You will learn:

- Bill’s insightful view of the issues and challenges facing us in today’s world
- The 7 key leadership lessons for leading successfully in a crisis
- Face Reality, Starting with Yourself
- Don’t be Atlas, Get the World Off Your Shoulders
- Dig Deep for the Root Cause
- Get Ready for the Long Haul
- Never Waste a Good Crisis
- You’re in the Spotlight: Don’t Lose Track of True North
- Go on Offense, Focus on Winning
- What steps you can take to begin increasing your leadership abilities

About Bill George:

Bill George is professor at Harvard Business School where he teaches leadership. He was CEO of Medtronic from 1991 until 2001 and chairman from 1996 to 2002. Under his leadership, Medtronic's market capitalization grew from $1.1 billion to $60 billion, averaging 35% a year. He serves on the board of directors of ExxonMobil and Goldman Sachs and, previously, Novartis and Target Corporation.

He is the author of three best-selling books: True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership, Finding Your True North: A Personal Guide, and Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets of Creating Lasting Value.

He has been named one of “Top 25 Business Leaders of the Past 25 Years” by PBS; “Executive of the Year – 2001” by the Academy of Management; and “Director of the Year – 2001-02” by the National Association of Corporate Directors.