Bill George Interview on Leadership

Here are my notes from Ben Dean, PhD of www.abdsurvivalguide.com interview Bill George, the former CEO of Medtronic.


Interview with Bill George, Fmr. CEO of Medtronics

9/27/2007 11:00am

Teaches at Harvard. Author of True North

Notes taken by Shaun Jamison

Highlights:

Focus employees and leaders on what value you add to society. Example: Medtronic could measure success by how many people they restored to health. (Value per share doesn’t excite employees too much.)

Sole focus on work will create flat leaders that over-manage and second guess their employees. Bill is a meditator – 20 minutes twice a day. Clear head of clutter – “go up on the mountain”

There are no traits or characteristics that match up with leadership. Life stories are important – transformative experiences make the leader. Leaders don’t fail in their leadership of others so much as in leading themselves.

Learn by doing. Self awareness and practicing your values doesn’t just happen. No substitute for actual experience in leadership. He noted that military leaders in his classes do well as they get lots of experience.

Give and receive honest feedback. The more powerful you are, the less likely people will tell you the truth. Bill is a big fan of 360 feedback. Teach them to give feedback in a caring non-judgmental way. Having received feedback, you are more likely to give it. Need system where you are not punished for feedback. Give feedback frequently.

Use six packs – small discussion/support groups. Bill talked about his men’s group and the importance of small groups.

Need support from above. Interventions such as 360 feedback will fail if not supported by upper management.

Leadership development needs to focus on the authentic “you.” Lots of leadership development has been trying to make people into someone they are not. This creates outside – in, superficial change that doesn’t last. Focus on who you are and the crucibles. If you don’t fit into an environment, get out!

Can anyone be a leader? Yes, if they are willing to do the hard work by going inside themselves.

Shaun Jamison
www.guideonyourside.com

Conference Bike

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Here's what I was thinking: You agree to bike until a certain goal for the conflict resolution is met. People think better while physically engaged and they have to cooperate to some degree to make the bike go. Besides, it's so darn silly, it'll break down barriers.

Shaun

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Shaun