Succession planning

Leadership transitions go awry with alarming frequency, often the result of an emotionally charged power struggle between the CEO and his would-be heir. Four practices, however, can help successors defuse the crisis—and make it to the top.

“Did I find it frustrating as the White House Chief of Staff? Toughest job I ever had, but…if you find it unpleasant to cope with a complex problem that is simultaneously the business of four or five Cabinet departments, several public interest groups, and the Congress, and one that the President will finally decide, then […]

Innovation is now the be-all and end-all in every industry.

Executives no longer have the time necessary to develop the leadership skills for long-term success.

This post is part of our in-depth look at Obama's First 90 Days in office. One of the core challenges of turnaround leadership is how much to share the...

Owners need to get their house in order first.

The CEO and cofounder of Seventh Generation, a maker of environmentally responsible household and personal care products, describes how he came to realize...

"I get completely caught up in fire-fighting and can't find the time to advance my longer-term priorities." This is a common managerial lament, the frustration...

“The question isn’t whom to choose. It’s how to keep them both.” The more Tom Arthur thought about naming his successor as chief executive of Winger Foods Incorporated, the more important that question became. In his seven years as CEO, Arthur had turned the $5 billion company around. Winger soups once again led in market […]

A new take on the insider versus outsider debate.

Businesses hoping to survive over the long term will have to remake themselves into better competitors at least once along the way. These efforts have...

Six reasons people left well-established careers to do just that.

Many leaders taking on new roles try to prove themselves early on by going after quick wins - fresh, visible contributions to the business. But in the...

Outsiders make more-drastic changes, but insiders make faster ones.

Create something that will outlast you.

It's complicated, but not impossible to manage.

How do you pick the boss for a team of superstars?

Although the number of women managers has grown, they are still usually found in junior positions. Many companies hire women only to ensure mere adequacy...

How you handle yourself in your final weeks and months in power will have a big impact on how you are remembered.

During the past few months, two troubling fault lines have surfaced at Apple - one at the top and another at the bottom. Neither bode well for the future....