Behind the Keynotes
Episode 1: Becoming an Effective and Courageous Leader
Episode 1: Becoming an Effective and Courageous Leader
Watch or Listen to This Episode
Study Guide
Lesson Notes
How can you become an effective and courageous leader? Based on the insights from our experts, you need to consider four important aspects: yourself, your team, the organization you work for, and the business environment.
You as a Leader
Embrace Imperfection and Learn from Mistakes
Chris Voss and Will Guidara highlight the importance of letting go of perfectionism and embracing mistakes as part of the growth process. Leaders should persist in trying, understanding that progress comes from consistent effort and the willingness to learn from failures.
Cultivate Character and Self-Awareness
Adam Grant emphasizes the foundational traits of generosity, humility, and integrity. Coupled with Bozoma Saint John’s point about understanding the “why” behind one’s actions, leaders need to align their values and actions, which builds authenticity and trust and inspires others.
Seek and Embrace Feedback
Kim Scott discusses the necessity of soliciting feedback and addressing discomfort to grow. Leaders who actively seek candid input and show they value it can improve personally and set an example for their teams.
Your Team
Build Trust and a Learning Culture
Liz Wiseman and Kim Scott emphasize fostering trust within the team by encouraging open communication, soliciting feedback, and creating psychological safety. Leaders must guide teams through ambiguity by building a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Shift from Command to Inquiry
Liz Wiseman’s advice to shift from providing answers to asking thoughtful questions fosters collective intelligence. Leaders should encourage team members to think critically, take ownership, and work together to solve complex problems.
The Organization
Align Passion with Mission
Bozoma Saint John’s insight about believing in and aligning with the organizational mission is crucial for inspiring others. Leaders who communicate with conviction create a sense of purpose and motivate their teams to pursue collective goals passionately.
Prioritize Effectively
Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae emphasizes focusing on the most important issues rather than spreading resources too thin. Leaders must make strategic decisions about where to allocate attention and energy to achieve meaningful results.
The Business Environment
Adapt to Change with Courage and Creativity
Morten Hansen and Liz Wiseman highlight the need for leaders to navigate uncertainty with openness and creativity. Leaders must stay curious, embrace new learning, and lead their teams into uncharted territories with confidence.
Listen to Feedback and the Market
Steven Van Belleghem stresses the importance of staying connected to external stakeholders. Leaders must actively seek insights from the market, customers, and industry trends to make informed decisions and remain competitive.
Employ Disciplined Experimentation
Morten Hansen’s concept of “empirical creativity” suggests that leaders should experiment and pilot new ideas while remaining disciplined in execution. This balanced approach allows organizations to adapt and innovate effectively in a rapidly changing world.
Ask Yourself
Do my actions align with my core values and the mission I believe in?
- Examine if your daily decisions reflect integrity, humility, and generosity, as Adam Grant suggests. Consider if your choices and actions contribute to your goals and support your values.
Do I encourage my team to think critically and solve problems collaboratively?
- Reflect on whether you’re shifting from giving answers to asking questions that challenge your team to think deeply.
Am I focusing on what matters most, or am I trying to do too much at once?
- Challenge whether you’re prioritizing effectively and putting energy into what will have the greatest impact.
Am I listening to and actively seeking feedback, and using it to make better decisions?
- Reflect on whether you’re staying connected to market trends, customer needs, and industry insights to inform your leadership. Consider if you are creating opportunities for candid feedback and whether you use it constructively to grow.
The Episode in 3 Quotes
“Relieve yourself of the necessity for perfection.” – Chris Voss
“To be a courageous and effective leader, you have to believe in the mission of the product, the service, or the company, and even yourself.” – Bozoma Saint John
“All it takes to become a courageous and effective leader is to just start trying. It’s to ask yourself what right looks like and do that over and over and over again.” – Will Guidara
Further Learning
Want more? Tune into the two previous season of the Behind the Keynotes interview series!