SERIAL CEO  

Margaret Heffernan


True Leaders Peel Vegetables

If you want to get the best and most from people, you need to see them as equals and be as willing to serve them as they are to serve you.  Read story

Marissa Mayer: What Has the New Yahoo CEO Gotten Herself Into?

Marissa Mayer's ascendance to the CEO post at Yahoo may look smart for the company. But is it good for her?  Read story

Reminder: Strategy & Planning Are Not Optional

You don't want your company to be among the walking dead. Know what you offer, to whom, and why.  Read story

3 Simple Ways to Make People Happy at Work

Learn these strategies to make your employees happy, and extravagantly execute them. You'll create a better business.  Read story

Bob Diamond Didn't Know What Was Going on at Barclays?

Former Barclays CEO Bob Diamond says he didn't know what was going on inside his company. Do you know what's happening at yours?  Read story

Entrepreneurs Rule the World

What was the TEDGlobal topic in Edinburgh this morning? The $10 trillion market of street vendors and traders, the second-largest economy in the world.  Read story

How to Manage Clever People

Artists, designers, and programmers are different, difficult, and--depending on your strategy--delightful.  Read story

Strong Leaders Establish Trust

You can earn the trust of your employees, suppliers, and customers. First, ask yourself if you deserve it.  Read story

Fire an Employee Nicely. Here's How.

No boss should enjoy losing an employee. But you can help smooth out the exit.  Read story

Forget Recruiters: Invest in Your People

Internal hires are known quantities. Don't assume they can only do what they have done before.  Read story

Recruit Right--Even Those You Turn Away

Seize the moment to build your firm's reputation. Treat all job candidates well during and after the interview process.  Read story

Is Organization the Enemy of Creativity?

Nope, even Michelangelo embraced constraints. But don't take it too far; process shouldn't be perfect. Here's why.  Read story

Inspire Your Workforce: Be Curious

A five-step assignment to convey your interest in your team, and spur a sense of belonging.  Read story

Risks and Rewards of Staff Surveys

You may think you know what's going on with your team. But survey data is far better than anecdotal observation.  Read story

How to Give Feedback: 7 Tactics

What's a cheap, fast, and easy way to stoke employee productivity and interest? Tell them how they're doing.  Read story

Taking On an Ambitious Project? Be Honest

It won't get you anywhere to gloss over the challenges of a new business venture. Three reasons why.  Read story

Want to Start a Business? First, Find a Partner

Going it alone is too hard and too slow. Here are five fundamentals of a strong co-foundership.  Read story

Willful Blindness: Murdoch's (And Your) Leadership Risk

Anyone in power may be blinded by employees who seek to please. Who can you rely on to ask those disagreeable questions?  Read story

What’s Wrong with Performance Targets?

Let's start with a kibosh on smart thinking, internal collaboration, and external relationship-building.  Read story

Rupert Murdoch: Don't Lead Your Family Business Like Him

Why you should prioritize talent and ethics above everything--and everyone--else.  Read story

Mark Zuckerberg and the Perils of Soloists

What it means for Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg--and entrepreneurs everywhere--that the Facebook founder is so comfortable maneuvering on his own.  Read story

Make Good Decisions: 4 Tips

Wise decision making is not a constant, research shows. But you can set yourself up for success in these straightforward ways.  Read story

Secrets of the Most Productive People I Know

The path to productivity is not a new assistant or project management software. It's these four shared characteristics.  Read story

Encourage Employees to Speak Up

Silence is not golden. To really know what's going on, you need people around you to say what's on their minds (even if it's not what you want to hear).  Read story

Problem with Open Office Plans

Does easy communication outweigh noisy distraction at the workplace?  Read story

Don't Wish for Obedient Employees

Instead, like the military, nurture an environment of moral courage, one in which team members break stupid rules, and suggest smarter solutions.  Read story

Turn a Hunch Into a Strategy

A low-cost, low-effort way to test your instincts--and prove a meaningful insight--before it's too late.  Read story

Is a Fraudster in Your Midst?

Whistleblowers are your best way to find out. Make sure you've set up a way to learn early if something's amiss.  Read story

Is Former Goldman Sachs Exec Destined for Entrepreneurship?

Sheer rage has motivated countless entrepreneurs. Many knew what they wanted a firm to stand for long before they knew what they wanted it to sell.  Read story

Ditch the Job Descriptions

Job descriptions are about following the rules. Innovation is about challenging them. Which message would you rather have?  Read story

Bully? Why Rules Won't Work

How many rules do you have in place at your company? You just might want to get rid of them. Here's why.  Read story

How to Build Great Collaborations

The power of cooperation and comedy to make useful products.  Read story

When to Listen to Your Fear

Self-belief can motivate you to succeed. If you lack it, you may need more resources, experience, or strategy.  Read story

Do You Need A PR Firm?

A serial entrepreneur describes her public relations mistakes--so you don't make the same ones.  Read story

What Makes a Company Resilient?

You can't stop really bad things--like Sept. 11th--from happening, but you can be prepared for them. Here are 7 ways.  Read story

Why Women Want to be Entrepreneurs

Like Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, women are driven to do business better and more flexibly, and make work better for everyone.  Read story

Weighing a Big Decision? Take Your Time

To understand all the consequences of an important choice takes time and attention--even if they're hard to come by.  Read story

Why Flexible Hours Inspire Performance

Don't waste a minute tracking your employees' hours. They'll get more done.  Read story

The Truth About Sleep & Productivity

Working overtime doesn't increase your output. It makes you stupid.  Read story

Danger! Don't Hire People Just Like You

Commonalities may be comfortable, but they also create blind spots. You want lieutenants who provoke feuds and dissent.  Read story