Summary of "True North" Written by Bill George

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.