I'm all for ambition and stretch goals. I set them for myself. But leadership isn't the same as cheerleading. Believing in something is a necessary but absolutely insufficient condition for making it come true. Margaret Heffernan absolutelyambitionbelieve share on social
The vast literature concerning whistleblowers shows that, far from weird extremists, they are really quite ordinary people: male and female, young and old, junior and senior, no more nerdy or obsessive than most hard workers. Margaret Heffernan extremistfemalehard share on social
A great deal of creativity is about pattern recognition, and what you need to discern patterns is tons of data. Your mind collects that data by taking note of random details and anomalies easily seen every day: quirks and changes that, eventually, add up to insights. Margaret Heffernan addanomalycollect share on social
Once you have power, you are inevitably surrounded by people who have their own agendas and will tell you whatever advances them. Margaret Heffernan advanceagendainevitably Change image and share on social
The biggest catastrophes that we've witnessed rarely come from information that is secret or hidden. It comes from information that is freely available and out there, but that we are willfully blind to. Margaret Heffernan bigblindcatastrophe share on social
Phones and soundtracks and Muzak and fountains replace genuine and unpredictable human contact with a seamless soundtrack from a bad movie and a cliche that makes us believe we must all be happy. Margaret Heffernan badclichecontact Change image and share on social
On overnight flights, I have trained myself to get to sleep almost instantly after takeoff. I always listen to the same audiobook on my iPod so my brain knows, regardless of time zone, that that voice means it's time for bed. Margaret Heffernan audiobookbedbrain share on social
Noise is a buffer, more effective than cubicles or booth walls. Margaret Heffernan boothbuffercubicle Change image and share on social
If the company depends entirely on you - your creativity, ingenuity, inspiration, salesmanship or charisma - nobody will want to buy it. The risk and the dependency are too great. Margaret Heffernan buycharismacompany Change image and share on social
Most executives I know are so action-oriented, or action-addicted, that time for reflection is the first casualty of their success. Margaret Heffernan actionaddictcasualty Change image and share on social
