Discover Your True North

"Discover Your True North bids to be a classic, standing alongside The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker and Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis. I salute Bill on his best book."
Foreword by David Gergen

"This is the most robust and practical leadership book I have ever read, period. Bill George, one of the most admired leaders of our time, packs several lifetimes of wisdom into one quick and compelling read."
Tom Rath, author of Strengths Finder and Are You Fully Charged?

"In Discover Your True North, Bill George captures the practice and value of skilled and motivated authentic leaders working together on a strategy and a plan to deliver a compelling vision. It′s a must–read! Thank you, Bill!!"
Alan Mulally, former CEO of Ford Motor

"This book is the gold standard for people of all ages who want to learn the art of authentic leadership. Bill′s practical exercises give us the tools to identify and develop our own leadership qualities."
Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post

"We need courageous and authentic leaders at all levels. Discover Your True North is an essential companion for anyone who aspires to make a positive difference in a world where trust and authenticity are the defining characteristics of great leaders."
Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever

"Bill George tells the stories of leaders united by one belief: You can′t deliver value unless you anchor yourself in values. Bill does a masterful job showing anyone on the journey of leadership what it takes to discover your own True North."
Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo

"Bill George shares his gift for finding a moral rudder in life. Anyone in a leadership position of any kind will benefit enormously from Bill′s practical and deep wisdom in Discover Your True North."
Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence and A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama′s Vision for Our World

Preface The Remarkable Legacy of Warren Bennis vii

Foreword David Gergen xi

Introduction 1

Part One: Your Journey to Leadership 13

1. Your Life Story 15

Lead Story: Howard Schultz, Chair and CEO of Starbucks

2. Losing Your Way 41

Lead Story: Rajat Gupta, Worldwide Managing Director of McKinsey

3. Crucibles 57

Lead Story: Daniel Vasella, Chair and CEO of Novartis

Part Two: Developing as an Authentic Leader 77

4. Self–Awareness 79

Lead Story: Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post

5. Values 103

Lead Story: David Gergen, Harvard Professor and Presidential Advisor

6. Sweet Spot 123

Lead Story: Warren Buffett, Founder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

7. Support Team 142

Lead Story: Tad Piper, Chair and CEO of Piper Jaffray

8. Integrated Life 159

Lead Story: John Donahoe, CEO of eBay

Part Three: Your True North Meets the World 179

9. I to We 181

Lead Story: Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa

10. Purpose 199

Lead Story: Ken Frazier, Chair and CEO of Merck

11. Empowerment 219

Lead Story: Anne Mulcahy, Chair and CEO of Xerox

12. Global Leadership 243

Lead Story: Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever

Afterword Stakeholders in Society 265

Lead Story: Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba

New Leaders Featured in Discover Your True North 275

Participants from the Original Research for True North 277

Where Are They Now? 279

References 287

About the Author 293

Acknowledgments 295

Index 297

BILL GEORGE, former CEO of Medtronic, is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School (HBS), where he teaches leadership in executive education programs. He was professor of management practice from 2004 to 2014. He is the author of four bestselling books: Authentic Leadership, True North, Finding Your True North, and 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis, and coauthor of True North Groups with Doug Baker. He serves on the boards of Goldman Sachs, Mayo Clinic, and World Economic Forum, and has served on the board of ExxonMobil, Novartis, and Target.

Start your own journey to discover your True North at www.DiscoverYourTrueNorth.org.