Content by Manfred Kets de Vries
Why Leaders Need to Take Play SeriouslyIt’s a survival skill for creativity, resilience, and innovation
Thu, 02/19/2026 - 12:02
We often imagine the lives of our paleolithic ancestors as an unrelenting struggle. But the very existence of cave art suggests that at least some of them could focus on making meaning beyond necessity. So what drove them? Was it sacred ritual,…
How Leaders Can Harness the Power of StoriesA well-crafted narrative can shape reality
Wed, 11/26/2025 - 12:02
A young manager told me about the day she nearly quit her job. A major restructuring had left her team reeling. As targets shifted overnight, colleagues departed and rumors spread faster than facts. “I felt like I was living in a storm without a…
How Leaders Can Avoid the Hubris TrapOvercoming it requires doses of reality, humility, and humor
Tue, 04/09/2024 - 12:03
Throughout history, leaders have been seduced by success, leading them down a path of hubris. This ancient Greek term, literally translating to “excess,” describes a state of exaggerated self-belief and arrogance. An extreme example is Xerxes, king…
Two CEOs, No Drama: Ground Rules for Co-LeadershipThe co-CEO model can actually work. Here’s how.
Wed, 08/18/2021 - 12:01
Leonard, the chairman of a global consumer goods company, was wondering what to do with the two co-CEOs running the firm. Although it had seemed a great idea to have two individuals at the helm, this arrangement had led to conflicts, stalled…
How to Tame a Belligerent ColleagueA best practice is to withdraw from arguments and provide matter-of-fact feedback
Thu, 04/01/2021 - 12:03
Serge faced a conundrum. One of his business partners was in a legal dispute with Serge’s father, Charlie, and asked for his help. Serge knew that his father was prone to suing everyone who crossed his path—including family members. The business…
How I Taught the ‘Team From Hell’ to Trust Each Other Virtual coaching can help turn around dysfunctional teams
Tue, 09/15/2020 - 12:02
Effective organizations rely on teamwork, not least because it facilitates problem solving. Many leaders, however, are ambivalent about teams. They fear overt and covert conflict, uneven participation, tunnel vision, lack of accountability, and…
Is Paranoia Widespread in Your Firm? You’re Not Alone.Trust remains a rare commodity in the workplace. Here’s what management can do about it.
Thu, 03/05/2020 - 12:02
Recently, I spoke to a CEO who had commissioned a survey on his organization’s health. To his great surprise—and that of his executive team—more than 80 percent of the respondents said that they were reluctant to speak their mind. They felt unsafe…
The Icarus Syndrome: Execs Who Fly Too Close to the SunLeaders always need to keep hubris in check
Thu, 07/18/2019 - 12:03
David was extremely gratified when he was named businessman of the year. He felt he deserved the recognition. Many articles had portrayed him as an entrepreneur who had reframed his industry, which gave him the courage to make his boldest move yet:…
The Cure for the Loneliness of CommandCEOs are quickly derailed without a sense of community
Wed, 04/24/2019 - 12:01
Recently, I was listening to the CFO of a large industrial firm who complained nonstop about her CEO. At the start of his tenure, the CEO regularly interacted with his top team but now seemed to spend most of his time brooding in his office. In…
Trust: The Real Corporate Wellness InitiativeInstead of being a commodity, a healthy work culture should be built directly into the corporate DNA
Tue, 01/22/2019 - 12:03
The global wellness industry is doing superbly, thank you very much. In recent years, it grew a healthy 12.8 percent, becoming a $4.2 trillion market. Whether the lives of wellness consumers are improving at a comparable rate is another matter…