Leadership Lessons for Hard Times

During the current global recession, much attention has been devoted to the mistakes that sparked the financial and economic crisis, in hopes of not repeating them. Less has been given to what’s been done well amid the turmoil—to learn, for example, how best to lead a company through these tough times.

To contribute to that understanding, the authors interviewed the leaders of 14 major companies, all seasoned CEOs or chairmen, asking them to reflect on what they felt they have learned so far. The companies they lead are in different industries, face different challenges, and have performed quite differently. What emerges from the interviews is agreement on some broad principles that can help guide behavior in the executive suite and the boardroom, as well as interactions with
employees, customers, and investors.