HBR On Leadership

CEOs get a ton of credit or blame for a company’s performance. But the entire leadership team is vital to success, and any dysfunction is often overlooked. Sometimes the CEOs leading them don’t even see that they’re not working. Thomas Keil, management professor at the University of Zurich, and Marianna Zangrillo, a partner at The Next Advisors, have interviewed more than 100 CEOs and senior executives. Their research identifies three main types of failing leadership teams: shark tanks, petting zoos, and mediocracies. And they identify the pitfalls of each pattern and how to turn those teams around. Keil and Zangrillo wrote the HBR article “Why Leadership Teams Fail.”

Does your organization lack quality leadership? In this episode of HBR’s advice podcast, Dear HBR:, cohosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Peter Bregman, the CEO of Bregman Partners and author of the book Leading with Emotional Courage. They talk through what to do when your leaders are indecisive, unprofessional, or value the wrong things.

Lots of people’s career timelines go something like this: graduate, get a job, get promoted, and keep climbing until you reach the top. Somewhere along the way, they go on autopilot—accepting each new role as it comes, without much thought. And before they know it, they’re positioned for the C-suite. This is exactly what happened to Sarah, a woman who’s on the cusp of a C-level role. But like many leaders, she’s reached a point where the logical next step no longer aligns with what really motivates her. If you can relate, you’ll get a lot from this conversation on Coaching Real Leaders—where executive coach Muriel Wilkins helps Sarah figure out if the next step is truly right for her, or if it’s just the one she feels like she’s supposed to take. Key episode topics include: career transitions, career coaching, leadership, CEOs, executives, promotions * Listen to the original Coaching Real Leaders episode: Do I Really Want to Be a C-Suite Leader [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-i-really-want-to-be-a-c-suite-leader/id1545444200?i=1000677327540]? * Find more episodes of Coaching Real Leaders [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaching-real-leaders/id1545444200] * Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org [http://www.hbr.org/]

Disruption and transformation are the new normal in nearly every industry. So how do you stay ahead of the curve? Over the past four decades, Bonnie Hammer successfully adapted to massive changes in the media industry, rising from production assistant to leadership roles in broadcast, cable, and streaming. As the former vice chair of NBCUniversal, she has advice on how to get noticed, acquire the right skillsets, make smart decisions, and adjust to shifting corporate and market dynamics. She’s the author of the book 15 Lies Women Are Told at Work: …and the Truth We Need to Succeed [https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Women-Are-Told-Work/dp/1668027615]. Key episode topics include: career transitions, leadership, managing uncertainty, decision making, innovation, entertainment industry * Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: How to Navigate Change at Any Career Stage [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000656264452] * Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135] * Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org [http://www.hbr.org/]

When news breaks of a CEO succession, much of the attention is given to the new leader and how they will change the company. But new research shows that the leave-taking process of the outgoing chief executive is often mishandled, with negative impacts on succession and the organization. Rebecca Slan Jerusalim, an executive director at Russell Reynolds Associates, and Navio Kwok, a leadership advisor at RRA, say that boards are often surprised when a CEO gives notice, and they often make that person feel excluded during the handoff process. The researchers share stories from the front lines about CEO psychology, best practices for outgoing leaders and their boards, and broader lessons for effective transitions. Jerusalim and Kwok wrote the HBR article “The Vital Role of the Outgoing CEO [https://hbr.org/2024/07/the-vital-role-of-the-outgoing-ceo].” Key episode topics include: leadership transitions, succession planning, leadership, managing uncertainty, corporate communications, boards * Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Why We Should Pay More Attention to Departing CEOs [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000661658470] * Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135] * Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org [http://www.hbr.org/]