I have some great links to add to those I gave you last Saturday.
Another article from McKinsey shines a spotlight on managers’ need to “master the disciplines of uncertainty,” because it isn’t going away any time soon.
The market may have torpedoed you and me, but it’s done far less damage to the corner office. “Compensation for top executives at many of the nation’s largest publicly traded firms was essentially unchanged last year, even as the stock market plummeted.” Why are we not surprised?
What has changed? An article in the WSJ Online tells us that COO positions are going the way …read more

Grab a cup of coffee (or a beer it the sun is over the yardarm) because I have 4 superb items for you today.
First up is McKinsey’s Economic Survey one year after the official meltdown. You may have to register (it’s free), but it’s worth it.
Next is a must read article from Paul Krugman, a New York Times columnist and professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University in which he explains, as Bruce Nussbaum says, “how economists, especially the math-based, market-manic Chicago-school economists, have hurt the US and much of the rest of the world.” The title is …read more

Have you ever registered to receive McKinsey reports? It’s free (my favorite price) and it’s valuable (my favorite requirement). I like it because I choose the categories I want and am not inundated with stuff I don’t want.
Today there are only two, because both are heavy on the meat, which requires more time and thought to digest and make use of.
The first is a global survey on how executives dealing with the recession as opposed to the thoughts and feelings of middle management. It makes for fascinating reading and offers up some interesting surprises.
The second discusses better ways to utilize …read more

Today is about an author, by an author and ideas for you to tweak and author for your company.
Do you know who Ray Bradbury is? An icon in the science fiction world, writer of screenplays, and hater of the internet and lover of libraries. “When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and Built to Last offers a new look at why companies with everything going for …read more

Do you subscribe to The McKinsey Quarterly? They have a great selection of topics depending on your interests. I mention this because you may have to register to read the following, but no worry, it’s free.
McKinsey has done a great interview with Stanford prof and management guru Robert Sutton, he of The No Asshole Rule fame.
In his McKinsey interview Sutton talks about how to be a “Good Boss in Bad Times.” The video is below or you can read the transcript if you prefer.

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Image credit: McKinsey Quarterly

Three great interviews on tap today with lots to learn.Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the embed code to work for either video (the Washington Post and McKinsey may need lessons from YouTube:), but they’re both worth clicking over to watch.
First up is Anne Mulcahy, chairwoman and chief executive of Xerox Corporation, a company that she took over on the brink of extinction and turned around. “In 2002 this company lost almost $300 million, and by 2006 we were making over $1 billion.” Now that’s a turn around!
When asked what the secret was, Mulcahy said, “It isn’t a secret sauce. It’s actually …read more

“Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.”
Last year I wrote about the global glass ceiling; today I have seven fascinating articles on corporate women. More of the same—or are things changing?
Kids don’t think so; in fact they’re more pessimistic.
“The percentage of girls who say they believe that today both men and women have an equal chance of getting a leadership position has declined from 35 percent to 24 percent between 2007 and 2008.”
And the guys still seem to have problems if women “get tough” (like them), especially in male-dominated fields.
“Speak lowly and slowly, but smile frequently…This advice…was …read more

Judy Estrin is amazing. She co-founded seven companies, including Bridge Communications in 1981. Back then I was living in San Francisco, had several friends who worked at Bridge and was fortunate enough to meet her and hear her speak. Like I said, amazing.
More than two decades later she’s still amazing. Judy has a new book, Closing the Innovation Gap: Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in a Global Economy that holds great value for anyone interested in the need to power the future, whether you run a company, are still in school or anywhere in-between.
But you may not know …read more

Another Saturday and another collection of useful links for you.
Just remember to disregard anything you find that suggests that the skills and attitudes discussed are only for the anointed few and not for all of you to use as appropriate.
First up is a new site from the Washington Post and Harvard Business called The Intelligent Leader. It has some great content, including a diverse group of video interview opinions and commentary on leadership.
Next is something I’ve never heard of, which means I’m more out of the loop than I often think I am or the organization really is a bit …read more

When Idris Jala was hired as CEO of a failing state-owned airline he had exactly three and-a-half months operating cash in which to turn it around—no bail out, no other options.
He succeeded well beyond expectations with a combination of laser focus on the P&L statement and his own view of leadership. Here are some of the more intriguing thoughts from a McKinsey interview with him.
Jala is one of the most pragmatic CEOs in action today.
“At a board meeting on my first day, I announced our business-turnaround blueprint. I’d never worked a single day at an airline before, but looking …read more