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HBR On Leadership

The Power of Selfless Leadership

Nov 15, 2023
Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter, co-authors of The Mind of the Leader, dive deep into the transformative power of selfless leadership. They challenge the notion that authority lies in ego, advocating for mindfulness and compassion as core leadership traits. The duo shares insights on how prioritizing others’ needs fosters emotional well-being and team dynamics. They also introduce the '2-2' prioritization method for daily focus and discuss how mindfulness can save time and boost productivity in the workplace.
21:35

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Good leadership is rooted in mindfulness, selflessness, and compassion, rather than power or public speaking skills.
  • Compassionate leadership involves making tough decisions, giving constructive feedback, setting boundaries, and focusing on serving the interests of people and the organization.

Deep dives

The Importance of Mindfulness, Selflessness, and Compassion in Leadership

Rasmus who guard and Jacqueline Carter argue that good leadership isn't rooted in power or public speaking skills, but rather in mindfulness, selflessness, and compassion. They explain that cultivating selflessness as a leader is essential, as it helps deflate the ego and fosters gratitude and humility. They also emphasize the need to combine selflessness with strong self-confidence and clarify that selflessness does not mean neglecting oneself. The research and consulting work they've done show that training the mind is crucial for a leader's effectiveness.

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