Michael D. Watkins

Apply the precision and focus of elite archery to transform your leadership effectiveness The Archer's Advantage: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Practice for Business Leaders unites an Olympic gold medallist and worldwide recognised archery coach with a renowned leadership expert. Together, Juan-Carlos Holgado and Michael Watkins translate the discipline, mental focus, and precision of elite archery into practical frameworks that help leaders at every level hit their targets consistently. Drawing on Holgado's decades developing world-class athletes and coaches and Watkins's expertise in developing executives, this book reveals how the physical, mental, and emotional disciplines of archery apply directly to leadership challenges. You'll discover how elite archers achieve peak performance under pressure and learn to apply those same principles to inspire teams and drive results. Readers will also find: Proven mental focus techniques used by Olympic athletes, adapted specifically for high-stakes business decisions and leadership moments Strategies for developing the emotional discipline required to lead effectively during periods of uncertainty and organizational change Practical approaches to precision and consistency that translate athletic excellence principles into measurable leadership improvement Insights into the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of peak performance applicable across diverse leadership contexts Ideal for seasoned executives seeking to elevate their leadership, middle managers aiming to inspire and develop their teams, and aspiring leaders setting their sights on future success, The Archer's Advantage provides archery-inspired principles that translate athletic excellence into business results.

Become an extraordinary leader. If you read nothing else on leadership, read this book. We've chosen a new selection of current and classic Harvard Business Review articles that will help you develop an authentic, adaptable style, bring out the best in your people, and springboard your organization into the future. This book will inspire you to: Navigate through uncertainty and change Lead with emotional intelligence Capitalize on AI and other new technologies Unleash collaboration and creativity across silos Cultivate the skills and mindset you need to succeed at the top Create a culture in which everyone thrives This collection of articles includes "Begin with Trust," by Frances X. Frei and Anne Morriss; "How Managers Become Leaders," by Michael D. Watkins; "The Authenticity Paradox," by Herminia Ibarra; "Cross-Silo Leadership," by Amy C. Edmondson, Sujin Jang, and Tiziana Casciaro; "Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations, and How to Become One," by Juliet Bourke and Andrea Titus; "Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance," by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee; "'Both/And' Leadership," by Wendy K. Smith, Marianne W. Lewis, and Michael L. Tushman; "Rid Your Organization of Obstacles That Infuriate Everyone," by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao; "Are You Leading Through the Crisis . . . or Managing the Response?;" by Eric J. McNulty and Leonard Marcus; "The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture," by Boris Groysberg, Jeremiah Lee, Jesse Price, and J. Yo-Jud Cheng; "Keeping Sight of Your Company's Long-Term Vision," by Ron Ashkenas and Peter D. Moore; and "How to Lead in the Stakeholder Era," by Hubert Joly. HBR's 10 Must Reads are definitive collections of classic ideas, practical advice, and essential thinking from the pages of Harvard Business Review. Exploring topics like disruptive innovation, emotional intelligence, and new technology in our ever-evolving world, these books empower any leader to make bold decisions and inspire others. This Updated and Expanded edition features new, breakthrough articles, additional short-form pieces, and a detailed discussion guide to give you and your team the tools you need for sustained success.

Everyone leads projects. Learn how to manage them more effectively.If you read nothing else on leading projects large and small, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you manage initiatives that will inspire your people, tackle your biggest challenges using agile, and prepare yourself and your organization for a world driven by projects.This book will inspire you to:Reap benefits from your initiatives more quicklyBecome a better project sponsorKill initiatives that aren't performingNavigate the politics of innovation projectsKeep AI and digital transformation on trackPrepare for the next generation of project management toolsThis collection of articles includes "The Project Economy Has Arrived," by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez; "Too Many Projects," by Rose Hollister and Michael D. Watkins; "Increase Your Return on Failure," by Julian Birkinshaw and Martine Haas; "How to Navigate the Politics of an Innovation Project," by Brian Uzzi; "Cultural Change That Sticks," by Jon R. Katzenbach, Ilona Steffen, and Caroline Kronley; "Agile at Scale," by Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, and Andy Noble; "For an Agile Transformation, Choose the Right People," by Rob Cross, Heidi K. Gardner, and Alia Crocker; "Discovery-Driven Digital Transformation," by Rita McGrath and Ryan McManus; "Keep Your AI Projects on Track," by Iavor Bojinov; "A New Approach for Strategic Innovation," by Haijian Si, Christoph Loch, and Stelios Kavadias; "The Rise of the Chief Project Officer," by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez; "Make Megaprojects More Modular," by Bent Flyvbjerg; and "What the Next Generation of Project Management Will Look Like," by Rachel Longhurst and Woojin Choi.HBR's 10 Must Reads paperback series is the definitive collection of books for new and experienced leaders alike. Leaders looking for the inspiration that big ideas provide, both to accelerate their own growth and that of their companies, should look no further. HBR's 10 Must Reads series focuses on the core topics that every ambitious manager needs to know: leadership, strategy, change, managing people, and managing yourself. Harvard Business Review has sorted through hundreds of articles and selected only the most essential reading on each topic. Each title includes timeless advice that will be relevant regardless of an ever-changing business environment.

Everyone leads projects. Learn how to manage them more effectively.If you read nothing else on leading projects large and small, read these 10 articles. We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you manage initiatives that will inspire your people, tackle your biggest challenges using agile, and prepare yourself and your organization for a world driven by projects.This book will inspire you to:Reap benefits from your initiatives more quicklyBecome a better project sponsorKill initiatives that aren't performingNavigate the politics of innovation projectsKeep AI and digital transformation on trackPrepare for the next generation of project management toolsThis collection of articles includes "The Project Economy Has Arrived," by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez; "Too Many Projects," by Rose Hollister and Michael D. Watkins; "Increase Your Return on Failure," by Julian Birkinshaw and Martine Haas; "How to Navigate the Politics of an Innovation Project," by Brian Uzzi; "Cultural Change That Sticks," by Jon R. Katzenbach, Ilona Steffen, and Caroline Kronley; "Agile at Scale," by Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, and Andy Noble; "For an Agile Transformation, Choose the Right People," by Rob Cross, Heidi K. Gardner, and Alia Crocker; "Discovery-Driven Digital Transformation," by Rita McGrath and Ryan McManus; "Keep Your AI Projects on Track," by Iavor Bojinov; "A New Approach for Strategic Innovation," by Haijian Si, Christoph Loch, and Stelios Kavadias; "The Rise of the Chief Project Officer," by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez; "Make Megaprojects More Modular," by Bent Flyvbjerg; and "What the Next Generation of Project Management Will Look Like," by Rachel Longhurst and Woojin Choi.HBR's 10 Must Reads paperback series is the definitive collection of books for new and experienced leaders alike. Leaders looking for the inspiration that big ideas provide, both to accelerate their own growth and that of their companies, should look no further. HBR's 10 Must Reads series focuses on the core topics that every ambitious manager needs to know: leadership, strategy, change, managing people, and managing yourself. Harvard Business Review has sorted through hundreds of articles and selected only the most essential reading on each topic. Each title includes timeless advice that will be relevant regardless of an ever-changing business environment.

Named one of 100 Leadership & Success Books to Read in a Lifetime by Amazon Editors, here is the world's most trusted guide for anyone taking on a new professional role.Transitions are critical times in your career. In fact, moving into a new role can be the biggest challenge a leader or manager will face. And while a transition offers a chance to start fresh and create positive impact in an organization, it also places you in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success.In this newly revised and updated edition of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Michael Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions—no matter where you are in your career. Watkins, the world's preeminent expert on leadership transitions and adviser to business leaders around the world, also addresses today's increasingly demanding professional landscape, where managers face not only more-frequent transitions but also steeper expectations once they step into their new jobs.Watkins identifies the most-common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides the tools and strategies needed to avoid them. You'll learn how to secure critical early wins, an important first step in establishing yourself in a new role. Each chapter also includes checklists, practical tools, and self-assessments to help you assimilate key lessons and apply them to your own situation.Whether you're starting a new job, being promoted from within, embarking on an overseas assignment, or being tapped as CEO, how you manage your transition will determine whether you succeed or fail. Use this book as your trusted guide.

Stay on top of your leadership game.Leadership isn't something you're born with or gifted as a reward for an abundance of charisma; true leadership stems from core skills that can be learned.Get more of the leadership ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership (Vol. 2). We’ve combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you maximize your own and your organization's performance.With insights from leading experts including Michael D. Watkins, Herminia Ibarra, and Michael E. Porter, this book will inspire you to:Identify areas for personal growthBuild trust with and among your employeesDevelop a more dynamic and sophisticated communication styleTry out different leadership styles and behaviors to find the right approach for you--and your organizationTransform yourself from a problem solver to an agenda setterHarness the power of connectionsBecome an adaptive and strategic leaderThis collection of articles includes "Leadership Is a Conversation," by Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind; "How Managers Become Leaders: The Seven Seismic Shifts of Perspective and Responsibility," by Michael D. Watkins; "Strategic Leadership: The Essential Skills," by Paul J.H. Schoemaker, Steve Krupp, and Samantha Howland; "The Authenticity Paradox," by Herminia Ibarra; "'Both/And' Leadership," by Wendy K. Smith, Marianne W. Lewis, and Michael L. Tushman; "Are You a Collaborative Leader?" by Herminia Ibarra and Morten T. Hansen; "Cross-Silo Leadership," by Tiziana Casciaro, Amy C. Edmondson, and Sujin Jang; "How CEOs Manage Time," by Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria; "The Best Leaders Are Great Teachers," by Sydney Finkelstein; "Nimble Leadership," by Deborah Ancona, Elaine Backman, and Kate Isaacs; and "The Focused Leader," by Daniel Goleman.

Are you a good boss--or a great one?Get more of the management ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing People (Vol. 2). We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you master the innumerable challenges of being a manager.With insights from leading experts including Marcus Buckingham, Michael D. Watkins, and Linda Hill, this book will inspire you to:Draw out your employees' signature strengthsSupport a culture of honesty and civilityCultivate better communication and deeper trust among global teamsGive feedback that will help your people excelHire, reward, and tolerate only fully formed adultsMotivate your employees through small winsFoster collaboration and break down silos across your companyThis collection of articles includes "Are You a Good Boss--or a Great One?," by Linda A. Hill and Kent Lineback; "Let Your Workers Rebel," by Francesca Gino; "The Feedback Fallacy," by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall; "The Power of Small Wins," by Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer; "The Price of Incivility," by Christine Porath and Christine Pearson; "What Most People Get Wrong About Men and Women," by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely; "How Netflix Reinvented HR," by Patty McCord; "Leading the Team You Inherit," by Michael D. Watkins; "The Overcommitted Organization," by Mark Mortensen and Heidi K. Gardner; "Global Teams That Work," by Tsedal Neeley; "Creating the Best Workplace on Earth," by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones.

Your next professional move can make or break your career. Are you ready?In business, especially today, you are only as successful as your next career transition. Do well, and you'll be on the fast track to even more challenging roles. Fail, and you could irreparably harm your career--and your organization.In his international bestseller The First 90 Days, transition guru Michael D. Watkins outlined a set of basic principles for getting up to speed quickly in new professional roles. Since that book was published Watkins has worked with thousands of leaders, helping them to accelerate their transitions. These leaders posed challenging questions on how to apply the basic principles in real-life situations. The truth that emerged: the First 90 Days framework can be applied in every transition, but the way you apply it is entirely different when you have been promoted to a higher level than it is when you are joining a new organization or taking a role in a different country.Master Your Next Move answers a distinct need, focusing on the most common types of transitions leaders face and the unique challenges posed by each. Based on years of research, and now with a new introduction, this indispensable book explores eight crucial transitions virtually everyone encounters during their career, including promotion, leading former peers, onboarding into a new company, making an international move, and turning around a business in crisis.With real-world examples and many practical models and tools, Master Your Next Move is your guide to surviving and thriving as you make your next move . . . and every one after that.

Learn to lead others, while managing yourself.Becoming a manager for the first time means mastering a new set of business and personal skills. HBR's 10 Must Reads for New Managers Collection offers the ideas and strategies to help get you there. Included in this set are HBR's 10 Must Reads for New Managers, HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing People, HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself, and HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Across Cultures. This unique compilation offers insights from world-class experts on the topics most important to your success as a new manager, including assessing your team and enhancing its performance; developing your emotional intelligence and persuasion skills; navigating relationships with your employees, bosses, and peers; dealing with conflict; giving effective feedback; managing diverse teams; and fortifying your own physical and mental energy. The collection includes forty articles selected by HBR's editors from renowned thought leaders including W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne, and Daniel Goleman and features the indispensable article "Managing Oneself," by Peter F. Drucker. It's time to develop the mindset and presence to successfully manage others for the first time. HBR's 10 Must Reads for New Managers Collection will help you do just that.HBR's 10 Must Reads series is the definitive collection of ideas and best practices for aspiring and experienced leaders alike. These books offer essential reading selected from the pages of Harvard Business Review on topics critical to the success of every manager. Each book is packed with advice and inspiration from leading experts such as Clayton Christensen, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, John Kotter, Michael Porter, Theodore Levitt, and Rita Gunther McGrath.

Michael D. Watkins ofrece estrategias comprobadas para vencer los desaf os de las transiciones, sin importar en qu parte de su carrera se encuentre. Watkins, un destacado experto en transiciones de liderazgo y asesor de l deres senior en todo tipo de organizaciones, tambi n aborda el panorama profesional cada vez m s exigente de hoy en d a, en el que los gerentes se enfrentan no s lo a transiciones m s frecuentes, sino tambi n a expectativas m s abrumadoras una vez que se incorporan a sus nuevos puestos de trabajo, ya sea que est comenzando un nuevo trabajo, sea que lo asciendan desde el interior, se embarque en una misi n en el extranjero o sea que le asignen un puesto de director ejecutivo (CEO), la forma en la que gestione la transici n determinar si tiene xito o fracasar . Michael D. Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions--no matter where you are in your career. Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions and adviser to senior leaders in all types of organizations, also addresses today's increasingly demanding professional landscape, where managers face not only more frequent transitions but also steeper expectations once they step into their new jobs.Whether you're starting a new job, being promoted from within, embarking on an overseas assignment, or being tapped as CEO, how you manage your transition will determine whether you succeed or fail.

Named one of 100 Leadership & Success Books to Read in a Lifetime by Amazon Editors The world's most trusted guide for leaders in transition Transitions are a critical time for leaders. In fact, most agree that moving into a new role is the biggest challenge a manager will face. While transitions offer a chance to start fresh and make needed changes in an organization, they also place leaders in a position of acute vulnerability. Missteps made during the crucial first three months in a new role can jeopardize or even derail your success. In this updated and expanded version of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Michael D. Watkins offers proven strategies for conquering the challenges of transitions--no matter where you are in your career. Watkins, a noted expert on leadership transitions and adviser to senior leaders in all types of organizations, also addresses today's increasingly demanding professional landscape, where managers face not only more frequent transitions but also steeper expectations once they step into their new jobs. By walking you through every aspect of the transition scenario, Watkins identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides the tools and strategies you need to avoid them. You'll learn how to secure critical early wins, an important first step in establishing yourself in your new role. Each chapter also includes checklists, practical tools, and self-assessments to help you assimilate key lessons and apply them to your own situation. Whether you're starting a new job, being promoted from within, embarking on an overseas assignment, or being tapped as CEO, how you manage your transition will determine whether you succeed or fail. Use this book as your trusted guide.

"Whether you're going for that promotion, looking to jump ship, or change careers entirely, Michael Watkins' Your Next Move is a book you'll want to read." So starts the positive review of Your Next Move on the influential 800 CEO Read website. It's true that all leaders -- no matter how seasoned -- need guidance through the professional changes that define a career. In fact, transitions into new roles are the crucibles in which leaders get their toughest tests, and they're the defining factor in professional careers today. Yet far too often, leaders fail to transition effectively into new roles. The resulting costs are high, for individual careers and for organizations. In Your Next Move, leadership-transition guru Watkins shows how you can survive and thrive in all the major transitions you will face during your career--including promotions, leading former peers, on-boarding into a new organization, making an international move, or turning around or realigning an organization. With real-life examples and case studies, Watkins illustrates the defining hurdles associated with each type of transition. He then provides the insights, strategies, and tools you'll need to accelerate through these crucial turning points and continue moving up in your career. The necessary complement to the author's bestselling guide The First 90 Days, which has been translated in more than 20 languages worldwide, Your Next Move offers the keen observations, tried-and-true management wisdom, and practical good sense Watkins is renowned for. It's a vital resource for any manager or executive seeking to maintain career momentum. To quote the reviewer from above: "It's not just about 'moving' but about what happens when those actions are taken. Success or failure are the two options, and which option you emerge with will determine what happens going forward. Watkins' book definitely has the research and insight to equip you for the better of the two paths."

Even the best-run companies can get blindsided by disasters they should have anticipated. These predictable surprises range from financial scandals to operational disruptions, from organizational upheavals to product failures. In "Predictable Surprises", Max H. Bazerman and Michael D. Watkins show you how to minimize your risk by understanding and lowering the psychological, organizational, and political barriers preventing you from foreseeing calamity. They then describe the powerful tools - including incentives and formal coalitions - that business leaders can use to ferret out and fend off threats invisible to insiders. Failure see what's coming exposes your company to predictable surprises. Given the stakes involved, this book should count among every business leader's most trusted resources.

Most events that catch us by surprise are both predictable and preventable, but we consistently miss (or ignore) the warning signs. This book shows why such "predictable surprises" put us all at risk, and shows how we can understand, anticipate, and prevent them before disaster strikes. There is a universal fear factor surrounding this subject: that society and the workplace are filled with disasters in the making that we could prevent if we only knew what to look for. This book plays on that fear and offers a positive, proactive resolution to it.