Michael Useem Books
Michael Useem is a professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is known for his research on leadership development and organizational behavior, and has authored several influential books on leadership and management.
Known for: The Leader's Checklist: 15 Mission-Critical Principles, The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All
Books by Michael Useem
The Leader's Checklist: 15 Mission-Critical Principles
The Leader's Checklist offers a concise guide to effective leadership, presenting fifteen essential principles that help leaders make better decisions, inspire teams, and navigate complex challenges. ...
The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All
The Leadership Moment presents nine real-life stories of leaders facing critical challenges, from corporate boardrooms to mountaintops and space missions. Through these accounts, Michael Useem explore...
Key Insights from Michael Useem
Principle 1 – Articulate a Vision
Every effective leader begins with a vision—a clear, compelling picture of the destination that calls others to follow. Without vision, effort becomes directionless; with it, even adversity gains meaning. When I speak of vision, I do not mean mere slogans or numbers, but a narrative that brings purp...
From The Leader's Checklist: 15 Mission-Critical Principles
Principle 2 – Think and Act Strategically
Strategy is the art of seeing the whole field. The best leaders resist the pull of immediacy long enough to understand the patterns shaping their environment. Strategic thinking, however, does not mean detachment from daily realities—it means aligning daily actions with long-term outcomes. Consider...
From The Leader's Checklist: 15 Mission-Critical Principles
Case 1 – Arlene Blum and the Ascent of Annapurna
Arlene Blum’s expedition to Annapurna was one of the most ambitious in mountaineering history—a climb undertaken by an all-women team to one of the world’s highest and most dangerous peaks. As the leader, Blum faced not only the physical perils of the Himalayan environment but also the psychological...
From The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All
Case 2 – Eugene Kranz and Apollo 13
When an oxygen tank exploded aboard Apollo 13, NASA’s mission control faced one of history’s defining crises. Flight Director Eugene Kranz stood at the center of that storm. What followed was a masterclass in team coordination and leadership under life-and-death pressure. Kranz’s immediate challeng...
From The Leadership Moment: Nine True Stories of Triumph and Disaster and Their Lessons for Us All
About Michael Useem
Michael Useem is a professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is known for his research on leadership development and organizational behavior, and has authored several influential books on leadership a...
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Michael Useem is a professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is known for his research on leadership development and organizational behavior, and has authored several influential books on leadership a...
Michael Useem is a professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is known for his research on leadership development and organizational behavior, and has authored several influential books on leadership and management.
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Michael Useem is a professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is known for his research on leadership development and organizational behavior, and has authored several influential books on leadership and management.
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