Peter Drucker being one of the most important influences because he has helped to think differently about organizational leadership and management. Frankly, I learn something of value from everyone I meet. My Harvard colleagues. My students. The executives I work with. For an eager student, which is what I am, there is so much to be learned from everyday experiences. I'm a sponge. Always will be.

People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals. So it is crucial to recognize, reward, and celebrate accomplishments.

A self-reinforcing upward spiral: performance stimulating pride stimulating performance.

Confidence isn't optimism or pessimism, and it's not a character attribute. It's the expectation of a positive outcome.

Confidence is the sweet spot between arrogance and despair-consisting of positive expectations for favorable outcomes.

A great idea is not enough.

Change is a threat when done to me, but an opportunity when done by me.