King Henry VIII Resources

There are some excellent resources on King Henry VIII associated with the 500th anniversary of his ascent to the throne:

Henry VIII: 500th Anniversary of Henry VIII's Accession to the Throne
Henry VIII: A 500th Anniversary Exhibition
Henry VIII: Man and Monarch

A New Agenda for Boards of Directors

"Directors need to restore trust and reset their goals, says Ira M. Millstein, associate dean for corporate governance at the Yale School of Management."

CEOs Without College Degrees

"The thousands of wait-listed would-be MBAs who may not get the chance to go to their dream B-school might want to draw inspiration from the following group of CEOs. Not only did they not get graduate degrees, they didn't get undergraduate degrees—and some never even attended college."

The Magic Potion Of Hard Power Mixed With Soft Emotion

". . .The president refused all offers to let him cut the line. When he got his burger, he sat down to lunch with his vice president at a vinyl-tableclothed table near a sign requesting customers not to take a table before getting their food. Here is the man who occupies the most powerful position in the world, queuing up at a burger stand. It puts me in mind of another presidential image that resonated with the nation almost half a century ago--the image of John F. Kennedy sitting at his desk in the Oval Office as his 3-year-old son peeks out from underneath. Both scenes gave us a glimpse of immense power tempered by shades of human softness."

GM's Long Road to Bankruptcy

"GM stood atop the Fortune 500 nine years ago; it now stands on the brink of bankruptcy court as sales decline and cash becomes scarce. Moreover, GM bondholders are intensely unhappy with the terms they were offered as part of a plan to avoid bankruptcy, so even though the United Auto Workers struck a deal with management on Thursday, bankruptcy still looms as the probable course. How did such a once great company become so desperate? Perhaps the better question is, how did GM's well-paid management fritter away a treasure chest of brand loyalty and corporate wealth? There's not a single bad decision or one misguided executive that we can point to and say, 'but for that GM would still rein supreme.' GM's is a long-term management failure with a litany of losing moves over the decades, from the Chevy Corvair to the acquisition of Hummer — a rolling insult to the environment — that have collectively destroyed GM's balance sheet and sent its customers wandering."

New Justice Could Hold the Key to Presidential Power

"As President Obama prepares to replace Justice David H. Souter on the Supreme Court, conventional wisdom says his nominee will have little chance to change the court because all the contenders appear to share Justice Souter’s approach on social issues, like abortion rights. The latest on President Obama, the new administration and other news from Washington and around the nation. But the effect on presidential power could be pivotal. Important rulings on executive authority — striking down military Commissions and upholding habeas corpus rights for Guantánamo detainees — have been decided by a five-vote majority, including Justice Souter, on the nine-member court. . ."

Beneath a British Scandal, Deeper Furies

"To speak of a “political revolution” in Britain would seem chimerical were it not for the number of times the possibility has been raised these days, in precisely those terms, by politicians and the London-based commentariat. Suddenly, the talk is of a political system grown petrified, and in urgent need of a root-and-branch overhaul that restores the accountability of politicians — and of the government — to the people."

10 Questions for Alan Mulally (Ford CEO)

10 Questions for Alan Mulally

17 Ways College Campuses Are Changing

"The fifth-century B.C. Greek philosopher Heraclitus used to exclaim everything changes, nothing stands still. Well, colleges are in flux, too. Here are the 17 biggest differences between college today and college just 10 years ago."

South Korea Stunned by Former Prime Minister Roh's Suicide

"South Koreans have expressed deep shock at the apparent suicide of former president Roh Moo-hyun, who was under investigation for alleged corruption."

Leadership Humor

"I have to have a raise," the man said to his boss. "There are three other companies after me."

"Is that so?" asked the manager. "What other companies are after you?"

"The electric company, the telephone company, and the gas company."

Britain: 2 Are Suspended From the House of Lords

"The House of Lords suspended two Labor Party peers on Wednesday for offering to amend laws in exchange for cash, the first time any member of the upper house of Parliament had been suspended in more than 350 years."

Black Woman About to Break Ground as Rabbi

"A convert to Judaism who was raised as a Pentecostal Christian is about to become the first black woman rabbi in the United States, Jewish educators say."

Behind the Fortune 500’s First Female CEO Handoff

"This is a groundbreaking day in American business. With the decision of Anne Mulcahy to pass the chief executive role at Xerox (XRX) to Ursula Burns, the Fortune 500 has its first ever woman-to-woman CEO hand-off. The transition, due July 1, will also make Burns, 50, the first African-American female CEO in the Fortune 500. . ."

Presidents in Waiting

"This exhibit focuses on the 14 U.S. vice presidents who became president though election, resignation of a president, or other means. Features essays about and images of the vice presidents who became presidents, and video interviews with four living vice presidents -- Dick Cheney, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, and Walter Mondale -- on what it is like to be a 'president in waiting.' From the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery." (From Lii.org)

Bill Hybels - Finding Your Leadership Style

"I notice at least 10 major ways gifted leaders lead their teams."

The Future of Work

"Ten years ago, Facebook didn't exist. Ten years before that, we didn't have the Web. So who knows what jobs will be born a decade from now? Though unemployment is at a 25‑year high, work will eventually return. But it won't look the same. No one is going to pay you just to show up. We will see a more flexible, more freelance, more collaborative and far less secure work world. It will be run by a generation with new values — and women will increasingly be at the controls. . ."

Colleges Moving Away From Pure "Cafeteria-Style" General Education Requirements

"Two-thirds of Colleges Are Incorporating More Engaged and Integrative Learning Practices Into General Education Programs."

'10-10-10': A Fast Approach to the Right Decision

"In her new book '10-10-10,' Suzy Welch advocates a fast and reasoned approach to decision making by asking readers to think about the impact their decisions will have in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years."

Article on Jack Kemp

"Mr Kemp was one of the most prominent Republicans of his generation. He was secretary of housing and urban development under the first George Bush. He thought of running for the Republican nomination in 1996 and became Bob Dole’s running-mate. But his real influence was ideological. He was a tireless advocate of supply-side economics: the man who persuaded Ronald Reagan to abandon deficit-hawk Republicanism in favour of aggressive tax cuts. . ."

World Leaders - An Online Directory

"The CIA publishes and updates the online directory of Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments regularly. The directory is intended to be used primarily as a reference aid and includes as many governments of the world as is considered practical, some of them not officially recognized by the United States."

The Final Triumph of Chiang Kai-shek

"Chiang Kai-shek ranks as one of the most despised leaders of the 20th century. Famously derided as "Peanut" and "General Cash-My-Check," the leader of China's Nationalist government bedeviled the Allied war effort in World War II with his lackluster defense of his country. His corrupt and brutal regime squandered billions of dollars in American aid and drove the Chinese into the arms of the communists. He died in exile a deluded despot, relegated to a footnote in modern Chinese history. Or so the conventional story goes. . ."

Obama's First 100 Days

"This Wall Street Journal blog covers the first one hundred days in office of President Barack Obama, with an emphasis on economic matters. Topics include the automobile industry, health insurance, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon credits, banks undergoing stress tests in April 2009, the budget, credit cards, economic stimulus, and more."

Leading Artists: Five Principles for Overseeing Right-Brained Team Members

"Single-mindedly devoted to their craft, artists can slip into self-absorption and lose sight of the big picture. It's rare to have a simple conversation with artists or a simple decision about approach and ministry. Artists often see the world in shades of gray rather than black and white, and they resist quick or simplistic conclusions. . ."

New 'Lessons in Leadership' Guide

Want to be a better leader? Here's our guide, featuring step-by-step how-tos, related Wall Street Journal stories and video interviews with CEOs.

Articles on Management Gurus

Articles on Elliot Jacques, Clayton Christensen, Elton Mayo, and Ikujiro Nanaka.

Many Churchgoers and Faith Leaders Struggle to Define Spiritual Maturity

"[A] new study from the Barna Group identifies an underlying reason why there is little progress in helping people develop spiritually: many churchgoers and clergy struggle to articulate a basic understanding of spiritual maturity. People aspire to be spiritually mature, but they do not know what it means. Pastors want to guide others on the path to spiritual wholeness, but they are often not clearly defining the goals or the outcomes of that process."

Study: More Women Named to Boards

"Are more women moving into corporate boardrooms? At least one study says yes. In the first three months of the year, 38% of new directors – 38 of 101 appointments – were women, according to data compiled by quarterly journal Directors and Boards. That's the highest number and percentage since the publication began counting in 1994."

D. Michael Lindsay Review Article - "Beyond Platitudes"

"Susann, an exchange student from Germany, approached me recently after class. 'Why are Americans so concerned about the private lives of their leaders?' she asked. Referring to a chapter we recently read about President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinski, Susann was shocked at how the president's personal life could frustrate the political agenda of his final two years in office. Ever since the visits of Tocqueville, Europeans have been surprised by religion's influence on American public life. Indeed, religious morality provided the spine that allowed democratic muscles to stretch and grow during Jacksonian democracy. And today, faith grounds the actions and ethical deliberations of leaders throughout the halls of power. Shortly after my conversation with Susann, I read Douglas A. Hicks' refreshing new book With God on All Sides: Leadership in a Devout and Diverse America. Hicks brings together several different streams of thought from religious studies, history, and current affairs while reflecting on the unique challenges and opportunities that leaders face today. This book—more than any other I know of—provides insight and direction on how leaders ought to respond to America's increasing religious pluralism with both openness to the perspectives of others and fealty to their own faith commitments. . ."

World's Most Reputable Companies: The Rankings

"Reputation Institute's annual survey rated 600 companies. Here's who made the top 200."

The Hidden Costs of Overbearing Bosses

"As we burrow deeper into the recession, companies around the world are cutting costs in all the usual ways—by reducing headcount, slashing capital budgets, and trimming overheads. All these measures are vital. But in their quest to root out inefficiencies, companies should also be focusing on the hidden but substantial costs of supercilious and overbearing bosses. Last year, a global survey of 90,000 employees by Towers Perrin revealed that only 21% of employees are highly engaged in their work. The other 79% may be physically on the job, but they’ve left their enthusiasm and ingenuity at home. This is a scandalous waste of human capability. It’s also a virtually bottomless reservoir of creative potential that has yet to be tapped."

Problem Behaviors in the Workplace

Sylvia Lafair, a clinical psychologist, recently authored Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns that Limit Success (Jossey-Bass). "Lafair's research shows that, much as we like to believe that our behavior is entirely rational and governed by our conscious mind, our thoughts and actions are often driven by the roles we learned in our families as children. And under pressure, we tend to revert to old patterns."

Genius: The Modern View

"The latest research suggests a more prosaic, democratic, even puritanical view of the world. The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft."

Women are Business Risk-Takers Too, Study Says

"New research by the Simmons School of Management, based in Boston, Massachusetts, contends that not only do female managers take more risks than believed, but that they should also more actively seek out credit for their boldness. The school carried out a survey of more than 650 female managers who attended a major conference, asking them not only about the narrow, conventional view of business risk, related to hypothetical financial scenarios, but also wider opportunities taken in business and professional development."

Margaret Thatcher Article

". . .Thatcher's true genius was her relentless focus on making policy in support of a remarkably prosaic goal: to let middle-class folk feel that hard work would be rewarded in a better future for their children. Prosaic — but a profound break with what had gone before."

Obama Reveling in U.S. Power Unseen in Decades

"Barack Obama is reveling in presidential power and influence unseen in Washington for decades. Barely 100 days in office, the U.S. president and his Democratic Party have firm control over the White House and Congress and the ability to push through ambitious plans."

FDR Pushed to Get Jews to Safety in 1930s

"Newly uncovered documents reveal that President Franklin D. Roosevelt worked quietly in the late 1930s to find havens for European Jews, contradicting the view that he ignored their plight in the years leading up to the Holocaust."