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 19