The difference between a good leader and a great leader is humility.

Be rigorous about your HR decisions. There is a difference between rigorous and ruthless.

Level 5 leaders are a study in duality: modest and willful, humble and fearless.

Those who build and perpetuate mediocrity...are motivated more by the fear of being left behind.

To have a Welch-caliber C.E.O. is impressive.To have a century of Welch-Caliber C.E.O.'s all grown from the inside - well, that is one key reason why G.E. is a visionary company.

Recruit entrepreneurial leaders and give them freedom to determine the best path to achieving their objectives. On the other hand, individuals must commit fully to the system you use and be held rigorously accountable for their objectives. You give them freedom, but freedom within a framework.

Not all time in life is equal. How many opportunities do you get to talk about what your life is going to add up to with people thinking about the same question?