In this conversation, Ann Chow, the former CEO of AT&T Business and a trailblazer for inclusive leadership, shares her insights on what it means to 'lead bigger.' She discusses the need for empathy and understanding diverse identities in effective leadership. Ann emphasizes the shift in work culture post-pandemic, highlighting the importance of human connection and flexible leadership that integrates personal and professional lives. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on fostering belonging and inclusion while adapting to evolving workforce expectations.
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Lead Bigger for Greater Impact
Lead bigger by widening your perspective for greater performance and impact.
Include diverse people, data, and information sources in your leadership approach.
insights INSIGHT
Why We Lead Small
We are wired to lead small due to biases, comfort-seeking, and the desire for common ground.
These limit our perspectives and hinder growth by closing us off to discomfort and new learning.
insights INSIGHT
Belonging vs. Inclusion
Inclusion aims for connection, while belonging fosters understanding, appreciation, and value.
Belonging allows individuals to bring their authentic selves to work, leading to better performance.
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In 'Lead Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion,' Anne Chow draws from her over three decades of experience to introduce a new approach to inclusive leadership. The book reframes inclusion as a key leadership competency, going beyond traditional DEI initiatives to expand perspectives and drive innovation and growth. Chow provides practical insights, real-world examples, and contributions from leadership visionaries like General Stanley McChrystal, Arianna Huffington, and Adam Grant. The book aims to help leaders create a dynamic, inclusive environment that engages and empowers their workforce, adapting to the ever-changing business landscape.
The Power of Us
Jay Van Bavel
What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You
Melina Palmer
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R Covey
This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement[2][5][4].
The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias
The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias
Anne Chow
In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer is joined by Ann Chow, the former CEO of AT&T Business, for an insightful discussion on what it means to "lead bigger" and how to incorporate inclusive leadership in today's evolving work environment. Ann, who made history as AT&T's first woman of color to hold the CEO position, shares her experiences and the lessons she learned throughout her 30-year career in telecommunications and technology.
Ann delves into the importance of understanding the different aspects of one's identity and how they contribute to effective leadership. She emphasizes the need to go beyond the traditional understanding of work as merely a place to go, advocating instead for a more integrated approach that acknowledges work as an essential part of life. Ann also discusses the impact of the pandemic on how we view work and the crucial role of human connection in leadership.
In this episode:
Discover the concept of "leading bigger" and its significance in achieving greater performance and impact.
Learn about the psychological and societal factors that lead us to "lead small" and how to overcome them.
Understand the difference between inclusion and belonging and how they apply to both workforce and work.
Explore the importance of aligning purpose, values, and performance in creating a culture of belonging.
Gain insights into the evolving expectations of leadership in the post-pandemic world.
Visit this episode’s page for important links, top recommended books and episodes, and a full transcript.
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