Bill George’s “True North” offers an insightful guide
to authentic leadership, rooted in self-awareness, integrity, and a commitment
to empowering others. The book explores how leaders can find their own True
North, an inner compass that guides them through the challenges of leadership
while staying true to their values. This summary will focus on three chapters
from the book:
One: Leadership is a journey to Discover Your
Authentic Leadership
Two: Discover Your Authentic Leadership, and
Three: Empowering People to Lead.
The mainframe of the book is as follows
Chapter One: Leadership is a Journey to Discover Your Authentic Leadership.
The first chapter of True North sets the tone by
emphasizing that leadership is not a static quality or a title, but a lifelong
journey. According to Bill George, leadership is a personal process of
self-discovery that requires understanding who you are at your core, your
values, and your purpose
Authentic Leadership: George introduces the concept of
authentic leadership as being central to this journey. Authentic leaders are those
who lead with integrity, are self-aware, and align their actions with their
deepest values. Authenticity, in this context, is about being genuine and true
to yourself, not about adopting someone else’s style or characteristics.
While many leaders try to fit into a traditional mold
of leadership, George argues that this approach often leads to failure because
it lacks personal conviction. Authentic leaders, on the other hand, inspire
trust and loyalty because they are real. They are not perfect; they have flaws
and make mistakes, but they are honest about their shortcomings. George notes
that leadership is about accepting these imperfections and continuing to lead
with purpose and passion despite them.
Leadership as a Personal Journey: Leadership is not a
destination, but a journey that evolves over time. The path to authentic
leadership involves continuous self-exploration and reflection. Leaders must be
open to learning from their experiences, especially failures and setbacks, as
these moments provide the greatest opportunities for growth. The journey is
also deeply personal. No two leaders have the same experiences, so no two
leaders will lead in the same way. George highlights that true leadership
emerges when individuals tap into their unique strengths, life stories, and
personal experiences. Understanding your own story and reflecting on the
defining moments in your life is crucial to shaping your leadership style. This
self-reflection helps leaders understand their motivations, values, and guiding
principles, which form their True North.
The True North: George introduces the metaphor of
"True North" as a leader’s internal compass. True North represents
the leader’s most deeply held beliefs, values, and principles. It is the
guiding force that helps leaders make decisions and remain consistent in the
face of challenges and pressures. Leaders who follow their True North stay
grounded, even when external forces attempt to push them off course. The
chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself
throughout the leadership journey. Authentic leaders are those who understand
their values and remain steadfast in their purpose, using their True North as a
guide through the complexities of leadership.
Chapter Two: Discover Your Authentic Leadership
In the second chapter, George delves deeper into the
process of discovering your authentic leadership. He emphasizes that this
discovery is not an event, but an ongoing process of introspection and
self-awareness.
The Role of Life Stories: A key element in discovering
your authentic leadership is understanding your life story. George explains
that your life experiences, especially those that involve struggle, adversity,
or failure, play a significant role in shaping who you are as a leader. These
experiences provide the foundation for your values, beliefs, and motivations.
By reflecting on these defining moments, you can better understand what drives
you and how these motivations influence your leadership. Understanding your
life story also helps you to recognize patterns in your behavior and
decision-making. George encourages leaders to reflect on both the positive and
negative aspects of their experiences, as both offer valuable lessons. By
gaining clarity on your past, you can discover how to lead in a way that is
true to who you are.
Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence:
Self-awareness is another critical aspect of discovering your authentic
leadership. Leaders must have a deep understanding of their strengths,
weaknesses, and emotions. This self-awareness is the foundation of emotional
intelligence, which is crucial for leading effectively. George highlights the
importance of being in touch with your emotions, as well as understanding how they
impact those around you. Leaders who are self-aware are better equipped to
handle the complexities of leadership because they understand how their
emotions influence their behavior and decision-making. They are also more
empathetic and capable of building strong relationships with their teams. By
practicing self-awareness, leaders can make more thoughtful, balanced decisions
that align with their True North.
Values and Principles: In this chapter, George
stresses that leaders must identify and embrace their core values. These values
serve as the foundation for authentic leadership. To lead authentically,
leaders must consistently act in accordance with their values, even when faced
with difficult decisions or external pressures. Leaders who are clear about
their values are better able to resist the temptation to compromise for
short-term gains. Instead, they stay true to their long-term vision and
purpose. Discovering your values and principles requires deep self-reflection,
but once identified, they become a powerful guide for decision-making and
leadership.
Chapter Three: Empowering People to Lead
In the third chapter, George explores the importance
of empowering others to lead. He argues that authentic leadership is not about
control or power, but about enabling others to take responsibility and
ownership of their roles.
Empowering Through Trust: A key element of empowerment
is trust. George emphasizes that leaders cannot micromanage their teams or
hoard authority. Instead, they must trust their team members and give them the
autonomy to make decisions. This trust fosters a sense of ownership and
accountability, encouraging people to step up and take on leadership roles
within their own areas. Leaders who empower others create a culture of mutual
respect and collaboration. By delegating responsibility and giving others the
freedom to lead, they inspire innovation, creativity, and a sense of shared
purpose
Mentoring and Coaching: Empowering others to lead also
involves mentorship and coaching. George highlights the importance of nurturing
talent and developing future leaders. Authentic leaders act as coaches,
providing guidance, support, and feedback to help others grow and succeed. This
is not about directing or controlling but rather about enabling others to find
their own path. Leaders who invest in the growth of their team members help
create a leadership pipeline that ensures the long-term success of the
organization. Empowering others to lead is not just about delegating tasks;
it’s about helping others discover their own potential and leadership
abilities.
Creating a Shared Vision: Finally, George discusses
the role of vision in empowerment. Leaders must create a shared sense of
purpose that unites their teams. By clearly communicating the organization’s
mission and values, leaders help others understand how their work contributes
to the larger goal. When people feel connected to a shared purpose, they are
more likely to take initiative and lead.
Conclusion
In True North, Bill George offers a compelling
framework for authentic leadership, centered around self-awareness, personal
values, and the empowerment of others. The journey to discovering one’s True
North is deeply personal, requiring reflection on life experiences and a
commitment to integrity. However, authentic leadership is not only about
self-discovery but also about empowering others to lead, creating a culture of
trust, and fostering a shared sense of purpose. These principles form the foundation
of long-lasting, impactful leadership.
Some Insights from The Book:
The character without capacity is weakness, the
capacity without character is danger.
The authentic leadership has five dimensions; pursuing
purpose with passion, practicing solid values, leading with hearth, establishing
long term relationships, demonstrating self-discipline.
“What motivates me?” or “What is the purpose of my
leadership?”. If honest answers to first question is power, money etc. The leadery
may be off their way.
“I am suspicious about the one who never failed. We cannot
know what he will do in his first failure.”
The people losing their sight of their true North;
imposters (lack self-awareness and self-esteem), rationalizers (deviate from
their values), glory seekers (are motivated from acclaim), loners (failed to
found support structures), shooting stars (lack grounding of an integrated
life)
Abraham Lincoln: “If you want to test a man, give him
absolute power”
In a battle you don’t fight, but you lead. If you are
an employee you may be the best of your expert area, but when you are a leader
you are to serve the people.
Leaders with exceptional IQ have problems with the
others tolerating them. You should have a certain level of IQ at top such as
90-95% percentile not 99%.
The authentic leaders have integrated life between
their professional, personal, family and community lifes.
The leaders should show up around his/her employees.