Robert H. Waterman, Jr., on being smart and lucky

Abstract

Executive Overview Robert Waterman spent 21 years at McKinsey & Co., where he was a senior director. Since In Search of Excellence he has continued his research and writing. He has written The Renewal Factor: How the Best Get and Keep The Competitive Edge (1987), Adhocracy: The Power to Change (1990), and What America Does Right: Learning from Companies That Put People First (1994). In these studies Bob has stayed true to his belief that the keys to excellent performance are found in human interactions. In particular, these books highlight the roles of empowerment and leadership in effective managers. The willingness to give power to others and the ability to mentor and coach others are common themes in the successful managers and organizations he has studied. He was also instrumental in founding MindSteps, Inc., a leading provider of online career self-assessment and development tools for individuals and corporations. In January of 2000, MindSteps merged with University ProNet, a ten-year-old venture founded by the alumni associations of Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, to form eProNet, where Waterman serves as co-chairman of the board. He is also a founding director of AES Corporation, and he serves on the boards of McKesson Corporation and Boise Cascade Corporation. He is a trustee of the World Wildlife Fund and an advisor to the National Academy of Sciences.