<p>Who is the author of True North?</p>

<p>Bill George is the author of True North.</p>

Management & Leadership

True North Book Summary - True North Book explained in key points

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True North summary

Name: True North
Rating: 4.4 (131 reviews)
Author: Bill George

Bill George

Discover Your Authentic Leadership

4.4 (131 ratings)

20 mins

Brief summary

True North by Bill George is a leadership book that focuses on discovering and leading from your personal values and principles. It provides real-world examples and exercises to help readers hone their skills and become authentic leaders.

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True North
Summary of 8 key ideas

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Key idea 1 of 8

What’s in it for me? Find your True North and let it guide you toward being a better leader.

Sometimes it seems as if the great leaders of the world are guided by a supernatural hand. They seem too focused, too smart, too right all the time to make decisions like the rest of us, don’t they?

Not necessarily.

The authors of this book interviewed some 125 great leaders and found that they’re not so different from the rest of us. They have unique qualities that can’t be summed up in a few simple leadership cliches about “vision” or “talent.”

Rather, these leaders manage to concentrate on the right things; they know which issues are most important and stay focused on them. How? They follow their True North, that is, the compass that represents who they truly are and guides them to become the best leaders they can be.

As these blinks show, when the world around you seems in disarray or feels like it’s spinning out of control, your own True North can keep you on track, inspired and true to yourself. Find your True North to become an excellent, authentic leader.

In these blinks, you’ll learn

how a fishing trip suddenly re-motivated the chairman of The Gap;
which tear-filled inspiration changed Oprah’s approach to leadership; and
why great leaders have the self-awareness to see their own shortcomings.

Take your inspiration and passion for leadership from your life story.

We all have unique life stories shaped by past relationships and events. Authentic leaders, however, gain more from these experiences than the rest of us.

Authentic leaders are genuine people - that is, true to themselves and their beliefs - who are able to motivate others to perform at their best. Ultimately, they’re more concerned with serving others than with their own success or recognition.

Understanding the meanings of the key events in your unique story will guide you and help you find and focus on your True North. This, in turn, will set you on the path to becoming an authentic leader.

A case in point is Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks. When an accident caused his father to lose his job, his whole family lost their health coverage. Schultz’s mother was pregnant and unable to work, so his parents borrowed money and avoided bill collectors.

Schultz had vowed to create a different reality for workers if he had the chance, and he thus made Starbucks the first company in the United States to offer health coverage to part-time employees working as little as 20 hours a week.

In this case, Schultz’s experience and memories of his father carried him along the path to authentic leadership.

Authentic leaders’ stories also provide the context for their lives, as well as the inspiration to have an impact in the world.

Take Reatha Clark King, former president of the General Mills Foundation. As a poor, black woman growing up in Georgia during the 1940s, both poverty and discrimination were constant obstacles in King’s life. Nevertheless, she won scholarships and eventually earned a PhD in thermochemistry.

King’s goal is to create more opportunities for the poor and to help others overcome the barriers of racial and gender discrimination. She drew inspiration from her own story to stay true to who she is – and to stay on course with her True North.

Money and success don’t make authentic leaders forget those they’ve left behind; rather, they spur a sense of responsibility to help them.

Self-centeredness can make you lose sight of your inner compass.

As you start earning acclaim and the rewards that come with it, you’re at greater risk to get derailed from a path to authentic leadership.

There are five archetypal leaders who most easily lose sight of their True North: Imposters, Rationalizers, Glory Seekers, Loners and Shooting Stars.

Authentic leadership is about empowering others on their journeys.

Some leaders think their power lies in their ability to motivate others to follow them – but that’s a myth. Being an authentic leader isn’t about getting supporters to help move you along; it’s about motivating others to reach their full potential.

It often takes a triggering experience to get you to realize this essential purpose of your leadership.

Self-awareness will keep you moving in the right direction.

Know thyself is age-old advice, but that doesn’t make it any easier to follow. After all, we’re complex beings with numerous aspects to our character.

That’s why you need a compass – one that helps you calibrate your actions so that your leadership stays aligned with how you want to live your life. When your compass works, it keeps you on track toward your True North.

Practice your values and principles.

With the center of your compass firmly grounded in self-awareness, you must now uncover the values and the principles that will guide your leadership. What is most important to you? Is it maintaining your integrity? Or perhaps helping other people?

Once you know what matters in your life, you are well equipped to establish the leadership principles that will define your leadership style. In essence, these leadership principles are your values translated into action.

Find the right motivation to get the most out of your capabilities.

In addition to self-awareness and values, authentic leaders also need to find the right motivation. Of course, to do that, you first need to know what motivates you.

There are two types of motivations: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic motivations, such as good grades, trophies or high salaries, are measured by the external world.

Build your support team by investing in lasting relationships.

Everybody needs support and appreciation – even high-level executives who seem completely self-assured. Great leaders understand this, and build great support teams as a result.

Indeed, many authentic leaders have had a mentor who has changed their lives by helping them develop skills to become better leaders, as well as the confidence to lead authentically.

Integrate all aspects of your life so that you always stay true to yourself.

As we’ve seen, authentic leadership isn’t just about who you are at the office. In order to get the most out of your True North, you have to lead an integrated life.

An integrated life is one that brings together the major elements of your personal and professional life, including work, family community and friends, so that you can truly be the same person in each environment.

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What is True North about?

True North (2007) is a guide to discovering your inner compass and staying true to yourself, all while developing the skills you need to be an authentic leader. By uncovering your values and motivations, you’ll gain the tools you need to build a professional life that remains true to who you are.

True North Review

True North (2007) by Bill George is a book that explores the concept of authentic leadership and provides valuable insights for those seeking to lead with integrity. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It offers real-life stories and practical advice on how to become a truly authentic leader, enabling readers to develop their own unique leadership style.
Combining personal experiences, research, and interviews with top leaders, the book provides a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of what it means to be an authentic leader.
With its thought-provoking questions and reflective exercises, the book actively engages readers in a process of self-discovery, making it an interactive and transformative read.

Best quote from True North

The story of your life is not your life. It is your story. - John Barth

—Bill George

Who should read True North?

Leaders looking for a better work-life balance
Anyone hoping to become a better leader
People who need an extra bit of help reaching their goals

About the Author

Bill George is a professor of management practice at the Harvard Business School, and is currently on the board of directors at ExxonMobil, Goldman Sachs and Novartis. He is also the author of the best-selling book Authentic Leadership.

Peter Sims established the “Leadership Perspectives” course at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and co-founded the London office of the global investment firm Summit Partners.

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