Ronald A. Heifetz

Ronald A. Heifetz is the King Hussein bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership, and cofounder of the Center for Public Leadership at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Known for his seminal work during the past two decades on the practice and teaching of leadership, his research focuses on how to build adaptive capacity in societies, businesses, and nonprofits. His book Leadership Without Easy Answers (Belknap/Harvard University Press, 1994) has been translated into many languages and is currently in its 13th printing. He also coauthored the bestselling book Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading with Marty Linsky (Harvard Business School Press, 2002).

Formerly a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Heifetz works extensively with leaders in government, nonprofits, and business. His consultations and seminars with individuals, executive committees and leadership teams focus on the work of leaders in generating and sustaining adaptive change across political boundaries, operating units, product divisions, and functions in politics, government agencies and international businesses.

Heifetz is a graduate of Columbia University, Harvard Medical School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He is also a cellist and former student of Gregor Piatigorsky.

A List of Heifetz's Publications
Books Book Chapters  Academic Journals 
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading (Chinese translation). Bardon-Chinese Media Agency, 2003.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. Liderazgo Sin Limites: Manual de Supervivencia para Managers. Paidos, 2003.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading. Harvard Business School Press, 2002.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. I Skudlinjen, Hvordan man overlever i Lederskabets Jungle. Borsens, 2002.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A. "Adaptive Work." Encyclopedia of Leadership. Ed. George R. Goethals, Georgia J. Sorenson, and James MacGregor Burns. Sage Publications, 2004.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. "Leadership Is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration." MBA in a Box. Ed. Joel Kurtzman; with Glenn Rifkin and Victoria Griffith. Crown Business, 2004.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. "Self-Management." Encyclopedia of Leadership. Ed. George R. Goethals, Georgia J. Sorenson, and James MacGregor Burns. Sage Publications, 2004.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., John V. Kania, and Mark R. Kramer. "Leading Boldly." Stanford Social Innovation Review (Winter 2004): 21-31.
 * Heifetz, Ronald A., and Marty Linsky. "When Leadership Spells Danger." Educational Leadership 61.7 (April 2004): 33-37.


 * 1) | A profile of Ronald Heifetz
 * 2) | An Interview with Heifetz