Lessons to lead by

In the last chapter of the book, The ride of a lifetime, Robert Iger shares his life lessons. I am adding limited ones I could resonate well, read the book for the rest others :

  • Great talents tell great stories.
  • Innovate or die.
  • Avoid mediocrity 
  • Take responsibility when you screw up.
  • Treat everyone with fairness and empathy.
  • Strive for integrity
  • Value ability more than experience 
  • Ask questions
  • Don’t start negatively and, don’t start small.
  • Don’t be in the business of playing it safe.
  • Don’t let ambition get ahead of the opportunity.
  • Gauge opportunity cost
  • People and the quality of the product is the sum total of companies reputation.
  • Avoid micromanagement
  • Lead with courage, not fear
  • You can’t communicate pessimism to the people around you. It’s ruinous to morale. No one wants to follow a pessimist.
  • Pessimism leads to paranoia, which leads to defensiveness, which leads to risk aversion. 
  • You have to communicate priority clearly and repeatedly.
  • Optimism emerges from faith in yourself and in the people who work with you.
  • It should be about the future, not the past.
  • Treating others well is an undervalued currency, especially in tough negotiations.
  • If you are in the business of making something, be in the business of making something great.