The Mark of a True Leader with Dr. Robert Harrington

Robert Harrington, MD, is the Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University.  Dr. Harrington was previously the Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) at Duke University. He has authored more than 640 peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, book chapters, and editorials. Thomson Reuters lists him as one of the most cited investigators in clinical medicine from 2002-2014. He is a deputy editor of JAMA Cardiology and an editorial board member for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.  He is a past President of the American Heart Association and is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians and the Association of University Cardiologists. Interested in innovative learning tools, including novel methods of communicating scientific information, Dr. Harrington hosts a regular podcast on www.theheart.org called The Bob Harrington Show. When we think about serendipity and luck, it’s not so much that it happens at all, it’s if we have an open mind toward it. As Dr. Robert Harrington explains, good fortune comes to those who work hard. The hard work in his life has allowed for him to be receptive to the good fortune that has come his way. Dr. Harrington also talks about leadership: The mark of a good leader is not one who walks into a room to give orders. A true leader is the one who enters a room with the goal of building consensus, teamwork, and innovation. And lastly, he shares his experiences with mentorship and what he looks for in great mentees: the spark of passion and curiosity. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. The real quality of a leader is not marching in a room and giving orders, the real quality is building consensus, working with the team, and innovating. 2. There is a difference between hard luck and hard work. Hard work always bring good fortune, and chance favors the brave. Serendipity favors the receptive mind. It’s not whether or not serendipity occurs, it’s whether we are receptive to it. 3. The role of a mentor and mentee. The mentor is there to help us step back and see the bigger picture. The role of the mentee is to carry a spark of curiosity and passion that energizes the relationship.