Good People by Anthony Tjan Summary

Good People redefines leadership by arguing that character and values matter more than competencies alone. Anthony Tjan combines 100+ interviews with frameworks like the Goodness Pyramid (Truth, Compassion, Wholeness) to show how nurturing integrity, empathy, and purpose creates lasting organizational success. It offers actionable strategies for identifying, developing, and mentoring "good people" who drive ethical, sustainable growth.

Leaders, entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and mentors seeking to build values-driven cultures will benefit most. The book appeals to anyone interested in balancing technical skills with character development, offering tools like the RISE framework (Reflect, Internalize, Share, Externalize) to foster ethics and empathy in teams.

Yes—it merges philosophical insights with practical guidance, featuring case studies from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to venture capitalist Henry McCance. Its emphasis on mentorship, long-term thinking, and redefining success as "making others better" makes it relevant for modern leadership challenges.

Key concepts include:

• Goodness Pyramid: Truth (honesty), Compassion (empathy), and Wholeness (purpose)
• Good People Mantra: Prioritize people, self-improvement, values, realism, and proactive kindness
• RISE framework: A four-step process for personal and professional growth

Tjan defines them as individuals committed to “continuously cultivating values that help themselves and others become the fullest versions of who they are.” This contrasts with prioritizing resumes over character traits like humility and integrity.

The RISE framework guides self-improvement through:

1. Reflect on values and actions.
2. Internalize lessons from mentors.
3. Share knowledge with others.
4. Externalize goodness into daily practices. It’s designed to turn abstract values into habits.

Mentorship is central—Tjan cites mentors who shaped his worldview, like one who defined success as “making others better.” The book advocates for leaders to mentor teams in character development, not just skills, to create ripple effects of ethical leadership.

• Hire for values over mere competencies.
• Embed the Goodness Pyramid into performance reviews.
• Create mentorship programs focused on empathy and integrity.
• Use the Good People Mantra to align decisions with long-term ethical goals.

Some note challenges in measuring “goodness” objectively and balancing idealism with business realities. However, Tjan addresses this by advocating for incremental progress and shared accountability in cultural change.

Unlike purely tactical guides (e.g., Atomic Habits), Good People focuses on the “why” of leadership—prioritizing humanity over metrics. It complements books like Dare to Lead by linking vulnerability to organizational success.

Notable quotes include:

• “Success is our capacity to make others better”
• “Goodness is a proactive commitment, not a passive trait”
• Benjamin Franklin’s integrity exercises, like tracking daily moral wins

As workplaces grapple with AI and remote collaboration, Tjan’s focus on empathy, trust, and mentorship offers a blueprint for human-centric leadership. His frameworks help bridge the gap between efficiency and ethical decision-making in fast-changing environments.