James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal When we talk about aesthetics, we often think of art, design, or architecture. But every leader also creates an aesthetic: a look, a feel, a style that shapes the experience of those they lead. A leader’s aesthetic shows up in small things: the tone of a meeting,… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal In 2011, Profiles in Leadership Journal recognized Mary Barra as a Women Worth Watching®. At the time she was rising through the ranks at General Motors. Three years later she became the first woman to lead a major global automaker. More than a decade into her tenure… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal The lights may go out in the office, but for many leaders the switch inside their head does not. Long after meetings are adjourned and decisions made, leaders lie awake carrying concerns that refuse to rest. What are these worries? They are the weight of uncertainty, what… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal To prevaricate is to dodge the truth, to sidestep, to equivocate. Leaders who do it may not think they are lying, but they are not leading either. In the workplace, prevarication often shows up in three ways: Prevaricating may feel safe in the moment, but it corrodes… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Betrayal isn’t always dramatic; it can be quiet and subtle. It can arrive the day you’re promoted and a colleague is not. Or when the company brings in an outsider, leaving insiders wondering, “Why not me?” A leader must recognize that disappointment often breeds disloyalty. It may… Read the full article

James R. Rector Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal “All roads lead to Rome.” Not true. Some roads lead nowhere. Some run in circles. A few end in ditches. Rome was reached because people chose the right roads, or had the courage to build new ones. That’s leadership. The path is rarely given. You choose it,… Read the full article

The 5th Annual Asian Leadership Awards PLJ Salutes our Fifth Class of Asian Leadership Award Winners For over two decades, Profiles in Leadership Journal has celebrated exceptional individuals who have forged new paths, embraced challenges, mentored others, and excelled in their respective fields. This year, we are proud to present our fifth Asian Leadership Awards,… Read the full article

James R. Rector Founder & Publisher, Profiles in Leadership Journal Creator of The 3-Minute Leader™ A CEO once told me he was exhausted from “talking leadership” every day, meetings, town halls, emails. But when I asked his team what they valued most about him, do you know what they said? “He listens.” Not his speeches.… Read the full article

James R. Rector, Founder & Publisher Profiles in Leadership Journal Every leader eventually runs into someone who is, frankly, hard to lead. Maybe it’s the teammate who argues every point, the one who always seems to find the gray cloud in your blue sky. Or the person whose brilliance comes packaged with a grating edge… Read the full article

By Amy West Securing a corporate board seat is not an easy path—especially for women and those coming from nontraditional backgrounds. Women hold only 33.5% of S&P 500 board seats, and for those who don’t fit the traditional CFO or CEO mold, the journey requires intention, strategy, and persistence. I’m still on that journey. Public… Read the full article