The Journey to Authentic Leadership

When Bill George was conducting research and interviews for his book, True North, he sat down with Howard Schultz who tells a compelling story of how, as a child, he watched his father get fired and abused by company after company. He promised himself that if he ever had the opportunity he would build a company that respected employees and contributors and give everyone an opportunity to grow and develop in their roles.

It’s an important message and a recognition that everyone in the organization deserves key inalienable rights, aside from the life-liberty-justice stuff. The extrapolation of this story is clearly around respect for the people that make possible the function of business. Listen to Bill’s QuickTalk and also check my post on Jeffrey Pfeffer and his classic line: “if you intend to tell everyone what to do, hire idiots, they’re cheaper.”