159. Earn Your Audience: You Can’t Lead If No One’s Listening
Sep 10, 2024
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Join John Hennessy, former Stanford president and current chairman of Alphabet, alongside Tina Seelig, director of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program. They delve into the art of leadership development, emphasizing that effective leaders are made through empathy and storytelling. Hennessy discusses the Knight-Hennessy initiative aimed at filling the leadership void, while Seelig highlights that communication is key to captivating audiences. Together, they explore the significance of diversity and the power of storytelling in shaping future leaders.
Effective leadership is cultivated through experiential learning and storytelling, enabling future leaders to communicate their visions persuasively.
Empathy and humility are essential for leaders to navigate complex decisions, fostering collaboration and trust within their teams.
Deep dives
The Need for Leadership Development
The Knight Hennessy Scholars program addresses a significant leadership void by focusing on the necessity of training and equipping future leaders. John Hennessy emphasizes that leadership skills can be cultivated, much like any other skill, through experiential learning rather than traditional instructional methods. By providing hands-on experiences, the program allows scholars to engage directly with real-world challenges, which serves as a critical foundation for effective leadership development. This proactive approach not only prepares participants for their future roles but also aims to empower them to address the complexities of modern leadership.
Empathy and Humility in Leadership
Empathy and humility are identified as essential components of effective leadership, as leaders navigate complex and often difficult decisions. Hennessy highlights that genuine humility allows leaders to remain open to new ideas and fosters a culture of collaboration, where team members feel valued and heard. Understanding the needs of others and being empathetic during challenging circumstances helps leaders build trust and minimize resistance, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness within their organizations. By prioritizing these qualities, leaders can create an inclusive environment that encourages creativity and innovation.
The Power of Storytelling
Storytelling is emphasized as a vital skill for leaders, as it enhances their ability to communicate ideas and connect with others. The Knight Hennessy Scholars program incorporates storytelling into its curriculum, teaching scholars various techniques to craft and share compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. This practice not only fosters personal connections among participants but also allows for the important exchange of ideas and experiences. By mastering storytelling, aspiring leaders enhance their persuasive communication abilities, ultimately helping them relate their vision and inspire others effectively.
Great leaders and great communicators aren't born, they're made. That's why John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, directors of Stanford University’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars, are working to create the great storytellers of tomorrow, today.
"We decided that there was a leadership void, and that was a driving motivation to do this," says Hennessy, former Stanford president and current Alphabet chairman. The program, which he co-founded in 2016 with Stanford alum and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, equips scholars with essential leadership skills through hands-on experience and collaborative problem-solving.
Seelig, executive director of the program, emphasizes that great leadership centers on effective storytelling. "No matter how compelling your invention, your idea, the thing you want to do in the world, if you can't communicate it in [an] effective way, nobody's going to listen," she says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hennessy, Seelig, and host Matt Abrahams explore what it takes to develop as a leader, discussing the role of communication, the power of empathy, and the centrality of storytelling.