Manfred Kets de Vries

Educator, consultant, and author

Manfred Kets de Vries is a clinical professor of leadership and organizational change; an author, co-author, and editor of 35 books; and a consultant and educator on organizational design/transformation and strategic human resource in more than 40 countries. A recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award from The Leadership Legacy Project of the International Leadership Association, Kets de Vries is viewed as one of the world’s six founding professionals in the development of leadership as a field and discipline. Kets de Vries founded INSEAD’s Global Leadership Center, and is founder and program director of INSEAD’s Challenge of Leadership Program.

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 12:39
How Leaders Can Avoid the Hubris TrapOvercoming it requires doses of reality, humility, and humor
Tue, 04/09/2024 - 12:03
Throughout history, leaders have been seduced by success, leading them down a path of hubris. This ancient Greek term, literally translating to “excess,” describes a state of exaggerated self-belief and arrogance. An extreme example is Xerxes, king…
Two CEOs, No Drama: Ground Rules for Co-LeadershipThe co-CEO model can actually work. Here’s how.
Wed, 08/18/2021 - 12:01
Leonard, the chairman of a global consumer goods company, was wondering what to do with the two co-CEOs running the firm. Although it had seemed a great idea to have two individuals at the helm, this arrangement had led to conflicts, stalled…
How to Tame a Belligerent ColleagueA best practice is to withdraw from arguments and provide matter-of-fact feedback
Thu, 04/01/2021 - 12:03
Serge faced a conundrum. One of his business partners was in a legal dispute with Serge’s father, Charlie, and asked for his help. Serge knew that his father was prone to suing everyone who crossed his path—including family members. The business…
How I Taught the ‘Team From Hell’ to Trust Each Other Virtual coaching can help turn around dysfunctional teams
Tue, 09/15/2020 - 12:02
Effective organizations rely on teamwork, not least because it facilitates problem solving. Many leaders, however, are ambivalent about teams. They fear overt and covert conflict, uneven participation, tunnel vision, lack of accountability, and…
Is Paranoia Widespread in Your Firm? You’re Not Alone.Trust remains a rare commodity in the workplace. Here’s what management can do about it.
Thu, 03/05/2020 - 12:02
Recently, I spoke to a CEO who had commissioned a survey on his organization’s health. To his great surprise—and that of his executive team—more than 80 percent of the respondents said that they were reluctant to speak their mind. They felt unsafe…
The Icarus Syndrome: Execs Who Fly Too Close to the SunLeaders always need to keep hubris in check
Thu, 07/18/2019 - 12:03
David was extremely gratified when he was named businessman of the year. He felt he deserved the recognition. Many articles had portrayed him as an entrepreneur who had reframed his industry, which gave him the courage to make his boldest move yet:…
The Cure for the Loneliness of CommandCEOs are quickly derailed without a sense of community
Wed, 04/24/2019 - 12:01
Recently, I was listening to the CFO of a large industrial firm who complained nonstop about her CEO. At the start of his tenure, the CEO regularly interacted with his top team but now seemed to spend most of his time brooding in his office. In…
Trust: The Real Corporate Wellness InitiativeInstead of being a commodity, a healthy work culture should be built directly into the corporate DNA
Tue, 01/22/2019 - 12:03
The global wellness industry is doing superbly, thank you very much. In recent years, it grew a healthy 12.8 percent, becoming a $4.2 trillion market. Whether the lives of wellness consumers are improving at a comparable rate is another matter…
The 10-Point Stress AuditSometimes we’re so used to living with stress, we don’t know how to identify it
Tue, 08/28/2018 - 12:01
A certain amount of stress is needed for us to function effectively. Stress is very much a part of the human condition. We all face disappointments, setbacks, losses and pain. But to live a rich and meaningful life, we must learn to deal in a…
Beyond Coaching PsychobabblePreventing coaching from becoming a fad
Tue, 03/27/2018 - 12:02
I find myself increasingly intimidated by people in the executive coaching world. They give me a sense of unease about my own abilities. Many in the profession claim to be able “to unlock clients’ dormant potential and to provide them with a sense…