Who Do We Choose To Be?

Dealing with the Impossible

Jim Varghese, a brilliant executive leader in Australia, told me a story of doing something I had only dreamed should be done: he locked managers in a room until they came up with a solution. Years ago, I had thought this might get the U.S. Congress back on track but, as things deteriorated, even this seemed fanciful. Now, if left to themselves, it’d be an episode of the reality TV show Survivor. Or worse.

I worked with Jim over many years as he occupied several different senior-level leadership positions, first as director general (chief executive) of three different departments within the Queensland Australia government, and then as CEO of Springfield Land Corporation, building the largest planned city in Australia ...