Goals with teeth

Clear direction beats wishful thinking. When goals lack teeth, teams drift. John Doerr knew this when he introduced OKRs at Google, saying “Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.” Goals without precision become pleasant suggestions—easily ignored when...

Hidden allies

The company was struggling when Howard Schultz returned to Starbucks as CEO in 2008 after an eight-year hiatus. Sales were down, the stock had plummeted 40%, and the brand lost its soul. What saved Starbucks wasn’t just Schultz’s vision—it was a board that...

Hidden danger

Some people blast their foghorn of virtue while navigating treacherous waters with deceptive charts. They deftly point fingers outward, masking their moral compass with a theatrical display of indignation. The loudest voices often carry the quietest truths. Their...

Wash your hands

In 1846, at Vienna General Hospital, doctors walked straight from autopsies to delivering babies. Their unwashed hands carried death between rooms. Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis noticed something disturbing. The mortality rate in the doctors’ maternity ward was five...