True North

In True North, the sequel to Bill George’s 2003 bestseller Authentic Leadership, readers are shown how to follow their “True North,” their internal compass that will guide them successfully through life. According to the authors, this guiding direction is derived from our values, our passions and motivations, and the sources of satisfaction in our lives. And when we follow this internal compass, our leadership will have purpose and be authentic.

What stood out in the 125 interviews that George and Sims conducted with authentic leaders was the passion these leaders felt about their life stories and the motivation these stories gave them to become leaders. All of the leaders interviewed faced crucibles—experiences that tested them to their limits. While we all have life stories that include many of the same kinds of trials, what explains the success of authentic leaders is how they have framed these stories. These life stories provide the context, and through them, authentic leaders find their passion and inspiration to make an impact in the world.