Growing up in the Midwest in the 1970s, bullying was one of the worst things a kid could do. My father made it clear that bullying was cowardly, and if someone bullied me, I should fight back. He used to say bullies were like kangaroos—if you hit back, they would stop. While I’ve never found … Read More
When Fear Leads: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of a Paranoid Leader
“Paranoia, the destroyer.” — Ray Davies, The Kinks A few months ago, I received a long, detailed email from a CEO candidate applying to one of our client’s portfolio companies. He had just completed our online assessment, but couldn’t find our privacy policy — and that triggered a deep concern. He feared his information might … Read More