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Bill George

Medtronic, Former CEO
EPISODE 155

Stay connected to your front lines

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.

More from Bill George

Make your mission relatable
Develop a mission that everyone in your company can relate to and participate in. If every person in your organization can somehow be involved in achieving your mission, your people will feel more connected and engaged in their work.
Don't try to get ahead too fast
Careers aren't made overnight. There are valuable lessons to learn in frontline and workaday jobs—and they'll make you an even better leader in the long run.
Recognize those who make the difference for your customers
When things go well, be quick to give credit to your team. After all, they’re the ones out there making it happen!
Don’t get trapped in the ivory tower
Want to understand your business? Spend less time in your office and more time on the front lines. There’s no better way to see what’s really happening.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • Don't try to get ahead too fast
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Learn from your people on the front lines
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Find your true north
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Know when your time in a role is up
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Embrace the truth of who you are
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Be vulnerable and admit your mistakes
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Recognize those who make the difference for your customers
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Extract wisdom from seasoned employees
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Ask for the answers when you don't have them
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO
  • Don’t get trapped in the ivory tower
    Bill George
    Bill George
    Medtronic, Former CEO

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