Harvard Business Review Editor-in-Chief Adi Ignatius urges his team to “act like it matters.”
The former pitcher/infielder at Haverford College and current Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Business Review has come to believe that success in sports and business rests on the agreement among participants that the activity is not only worth doing but worth doing very well—well enough, in fact, to always “act like it matters” and attempt to win.
Acting like it matters has earned Ignatius a great deal of success in the field of journalism: writing for the Wall Street Journal, receiving a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize, writing for the Far Eastern Economic Review, Time Asia, and Time Magazine, where he became Executive Editor and Deputy Managing Editor before stepping down from Time to take the top job at HBR in 2009.
At HBR, he was challenged with leading the transformation of a venerable and beloved business journal into a leading-edge digital platform. That he achieved this and kept the Review’s fiercely loyal readership engaged testifies to the inventiveness and flexibility of Ignatius’ mind.
In this episode, he shares stories and observations about the relationship between baseball and business, including the batter whose appearance made him see business in a whole new light and the three key ingredients that keep winning teams winning together.
You will learn:
- 4:00 How to set the bar of ‘excellence’ for your children.
- 6:00 How Adi got his name.
- 10:00 How to feel a sense of belonging at work.
- 18:00 How to balance focus, passion, and fun at work.
- 24:00 How to avoid a common mistake in leadership transition.
- 30:00 Plans for Harvard Business Review’s 100th anniversary.
- 31:30 The one characteristic that gives Adi a competitive advantage.
Resources:
- Subscribe to Harvard Business Reivew.
- Watch Harvard Business Review’s explainer videos, case study discussions, and whiteboard sessions, featuring ideas and practical advice for leaders.
- Our David Ross’ podcast referenced.