Industry Magazine Get JACK'D Magazine Winter 2019 | Page 19

missing things or that I contributed the
concerns I’m raising. How does that work
for you?”
Putting it in Action
When I was preparing for the meeting
with the CEO, I learned that all three
consultants had tried to compliment him,
and he saw right through it. It was time
to take the feedback sandwich off the
menu and be radically candid.
I started by explaining why I was giving
the feedback. “Your senior team all
believes you’re the right guy to save this
company, and I do too. I hope I’ve seen
something that can help you do that.”
Next I took myself off a pedestal. “I
see this as a two-way street—there’s a
lot I can learn from you about leadership.
Who are the leaders who have taught you
the most in your career?”
He gave me a few examples, and one
was a leader with a clear, compelling
vision. I took the opening and asked if he
wanted feedback: “Your team actually
has some pretty consistent views on how
you can deliver your vision. Do you want to
hear them?”
He nodded and took out a pen. I shared
a few of their observations and asked if he
agreed. He did—he needed to clarify the
vision. A few weeks later, he stood up and
rolled out his vision. It was a triumph.
ABOUT
ADAM GRANT
ADAM GRANT has been Wharton’s top-rated professor for six straight years.
He is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning and live more
generous and creative lives. He has been recognized as one of the world’s  10
most influential management thinkers and Fortune’s 40 under 40.
He is the author of three New York Times bestselling books that have sold over
a million copies and been translated into 35 languages. Give and Take examines
why helping others drives our success and was named one of the best books of
2013 by Amazon, Apple, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal—as
well as one of Oprah’s riveting reads and Harvard Business Review’s ideas that
shaped management.  Originals explores how individuals champion new ideas
and leaders fight groupthink; it was a No. 1 bestseller praised by J.J. Abrams,
Richard Branson, and Malcolm Gladwell. Option B, with Sheryl Sandberg, is a
No. 1 bestseller on facing adversity and building resilience.
Adam was profiled in The New York Times Magazine cover story, Is giving the
secret to getting ahead? He was tenured at Wharton while still in his twenties
and has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for every class that he has
taught. He is the founder and host of the  Authors@Wharton  speaker series,
and co-director of  Wharton People Analytics. He has designed experiential
learning activities in which students have raised over $325,000 for the Make-
A-Wish Foundation while developing leadership, influence, networking and
collaboration skills. He is a passionate feminist who serves on the Lean Inboard
and the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon.
Adam earned his Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of
Michigan, completing it in less than three years, and his B.A. from Harvard
University, magna cum laude with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa honors. He
has earned awards for distinguished scholarly achievement from the Academy
of Management, the American Psychological Association, and the National
Science Foundation. His pioneering research has increased performance and
reduced burnout among engineers, teachers, and salespeople, and motivated
safety behaviors among doctors, nurses, and lifeguards. His studies have been
highlighted in bestselling books such as  Quiet  by Susan Cain,  Drive  by Daniel
Pink, and David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. He is a former magician and
Junior Olympic springboard diver
adamgrant.net
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