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The Leadership Center

Welcome to the True North Leadership Program Page: Information, Syllabus & Pre-Work Assignments

Dear True North Leaders,
 

We look forward to welcoming you to 1440 Multiversity on Monday, October 28, 2024 between noon and 2:00 p.m. The program journey starts promptly at 3:00 p.m., so please manage your travel plans to be on time accounting for possible travel delays.

 
We will spend the week together in intense learning experiences that are intended to help you become more outstanding leaders. The program will be based on Bill George's book, True North - Emerging Leader Edition. Program topics include your life story; your greatest crucible; your self-awareness and emotional intelligence; your values; the purpose of your leadership; and how to take it out into the world and do it!
 
On this web page you'll find:
  • Your welcome letter from your TNL faculty
  • Program Syllabus
  • Assignments by Session
  • Daily Schedule & Campus Information
 
It's imperative to complete all the assignments. Give yourself ample time to complete the work; it will enhance not only your program experience but that of your fellow participants, too.
 
Please contact Julie McKay with any questions you have at julie.mckay@1440.org.
 
- Your True North Faculty Team

Assignments by Session

  • Monday: Life Story (with Scott Kriens)
    • Reading: True North Emerging Leader Edition, Chapter 1
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete the exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapter 1
    • Activity
      Activity: Think about your autobiography and write out the chapter titles of your life, then chart them on your Lifeline Chart (see the program syllabus, page 3, for details). Please bring your completed chart to class on Monday. 
      START NOW
    • Additional Reading: Starbucks New CEO Brews Coffee at Stores to Prepare for Role (Wall Street Journal)
      READ NOW
    • Watch
      Watch: Schultz on the Memo and Coming Back (12:30-13:58)
      WATCH NOW
    • Watch
      Watch: Bernie Saunders Attacks Howard Schultz for Being Anti-Union (0:00-4:00)
      WATCH NOW
    • Watch: Laxman Narsimhan, New CEO of Starbucks Take Professional 'Barista' Training Before Assuming Position
      WATCH NOW
    • Questions
      Questions for Consideration: After watching the videos, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 3
      START NOW
  • Tuesday: Crucibles (with Bill George)
    • Reading
      Reading: True North  Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 2 & 3
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 2 & 3
    • Watch
      Watch: First 28 minutes of Ping Fu at Google
      WATCH NOW
    • Questions
      Questions for Consideration: After completing the reading and video, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 4
      START NOW
  • Tuesday: Self-Awareness & Introspection (with Michelle Maldonado)
    • Reading
      Reading: True North — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapter 4  
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete the exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapter 4
    • Read
      Additional Reading: How Satya Nadella's Family Helped Him Become a Successful Leader (The Economic Times)
      READ NOW
    • Additional Reading: McKinsey: Lessons in Leadership and Well-Being (BillGeorge.org)
      READ NOW
    • Additional Reading
      Additional Reading: Vulnerability Is Power (Huffington Post)
      READ NOW
    • Questions

      Questions for Consideration: After completing the additional readings, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 4

      START NOW
  • Wednesday: Values & Sweet Spot (with Dana Helen Born)
    • Reading
      Reading: True North — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 5 & 6
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete the exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 5 & 6
    • Additional Reading
      Additional Reading: How will you measure your life?
      READ NOW
    • Questions
      Questions for Consideration: After completing the additional reading, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 4
      START NOW
  • Wednesday: Purpose (with Michelle Maldonado & Dana Helen Born)
    • Reading
      Reading: True North — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 8 & 9
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete the exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 8 & 9
    • Additional Reading
      Additional Reading: From Purpose to Impact (Harvard Business Review)
      READ NOW
    • Questions
      Questions for Consideration: After completing the additional reading, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 5
      START NOW
  • Thursday: An Integrated Life as a Moral Leader (with Bill George)
    • Reading
      Reading: True North — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 7 & 13
    • Fieldbook Assignment
      Fieldbook Assignment: Complete the exercises in True North Fieldbook — Emerging Leader Edition, Chapters 7 & 13 
    • Additional Reading
      Additional Reading: We "Leaned In" to Our Marriage - Equally (TIME)
      READ NOW
    • Activity: Examine each area of your life (personal life, family, friendships and community) and describe what is most important to you in each. Write a short essay on how each of these areas contributes to or detracts from your leadership (see the program syllabus, page 5, for details).
      START NOW
    • Questions
      Questions for Consideration: After completing the reading and assignment, think about the questions in the program syllabus, page 5
      START NOW
  • Thursday: Energy & Empowerment (with Scott Kriens)
    • Additional Reading
      Reading: Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time (Harvard Business Review)
      READ NOW
  • Friday: Concluding Session — Leading Toward a Better World (Bill George & Scott Kriens)
    • What to Expect
      What to Expect: In our final session we will meet as a group in the Sanctuary. Each participant will have the opportunity to share what they learned this week — and how they plan to deploy their learning to becoming a better leader and to make this world a better place for everyone.
  • About Leadership Circles
    • Overview
      Participants will be assigned to a small-group Leadership Circle (LC) which meets following each full-group session. LCs enable participants to discuss personal issues in a more intimate group setting and encourage a higher level of openness and reflection than may be possible in the larger group setting. See the program syllabus, page 6. 
      START NOW