EPISODE · Oct 5, 2023 · 52 MIN
#155: Bill George, Former CEO of Medtronic — Stay connected to your front lines
from How Leaders Lead with David Novak · host David Novak
We all have those days where we hop from meeting to meeting, only to look back on the day and wonder what we really accomplished. If that sounds familiar, then you’re going to find a lot of value in this conversation with Bill George, the former Chairman & CEO of Medtronic. He’s also an executive fellow at Harvard Business School and, like all of us here at How Leaders Lead, he is passionate about developing great leaders. But he sees so many leaders spending more and more time in meetings, and less and less time with customers and front-line employees. How can you eliminate the layers that tend to build up between you and the people who work on the front lines of your organization? Hit play if you want to see how to do it and why it matters so much. Plus, you’ll hear great wisdom about leading with authenticity, finding your purpose, and so much more. You’ll also learn: How to calibrate your ambition and drive, especially early in your career Advice for forging a career path that fits who you are and what you want The danger of making your job your identity—and how to avoid it The reason behind great successions (Microsoft) and not-so-great ones (GE) Tips for focusing on long-term goals without ignoring immediate issues Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.
What this episode covers
We all have those days where we hop from meeting to meeting, only to look back on the day and wonder what we really accomplished. If that sounds familiar, then you’re going to find a lot of value in this conversation with Bill George, the former Chairman & CEO of Medtronic. He’s also an executive fellow at Harvard Business School and, like all of us here at How Leaders Lead, he is passionate about developing great leaders. But he sees so many leaders spending more and more time in meetings, and less and less time with customers and front-line employees. How can you eliminate the layers that tend to build up between you and the people who work on the front lines of your organization? Hit play if you want to see how to do it and why it matters so much. Plus, you’ll hear great wisdom about leading with authenticity, finding your purpose, and so much more. You’ll also learn: How to calibrate your ambition and drive, especially early in your career Advice for forging a career path that fits who you are and what you want The danger of making your job your identity—and how to avoid it The reason behind great successions (Microsoft) and not-so-great ones (GE) Tips for focusing on long-term goals without ignoring immediate issues Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources: The How Leaders Lead App: A vast library of 90-second leadership lessons to stay sharp on the go Daily Insight Emails: One small (but powerful!) leadership principle to focus on each day Whichever you choose, you can be sure you’ll get the trusted leadership advice you need to advance your career, develop your team, and grow your business.
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#155: Bill George, Former CEO of Medtronic — Stay connected to your front lines
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