“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

From Empty Suits to Real Leaders

Oct 29, 2024

14:52

Snipd AI

Dive into the concept of 'empty suit executives' and discover why they're becoming obsolete. Learn how authenticity and hard work are now the keys to leadership success. The conversation highlights a movement towards engaged leadership, with a focus on doers over detached managers. Explore personal stories showcasing the impacts of these shifts and how technology is reshaping corporate structures. The era of status-seeking executives is fading, paving the way for a new breed of genuine and adaptable leaders.

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Quick takeaways

The shift away from 'empty suit executives' emphasizes the need for authentic leadership, where engagement and hands-on involvement foster trust and respect.

Evolving workplace culture increasingly values practical skills and authenticity, diminishing the role of detached management styles in favor of more involved leaders.

Deep dives

The Concept of the Empty Suit Executive

The empty suit executive is characterized by leaders who distance themselves from the work and prioritize status over hands-on involvement. They often avoid direct interaction with customers, perceiving their responsibilities as above the actual execution of tasks. This detachment manifests in various ways, such as sending impersonal emails during crises or abstractly analyzing metrics like churn without grasping the underlying issues. The podcast emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership, urging executives to remain engaged in the work to maintain credibility and respect within their organizations.

Intro

2min

Reevaluating Management: The Rise of Engaged Leadership

3min

The Decline of Empty Suit Executives in Tech Leadership

4min

Authenticity and Hard Work: Redefining Leadership Success

3min

Shifting Perspectives on Leadership and Business Success

2min

In this segment of HR Heretics, Kelli and Nolan discuss "empty suit executives" – a term coined by product leader Tyler Hogge, highlighting executives who manage from above but scoff at doing the work themselves.

Is the era of the status-seeking executive dead? Explore how AI, increased competition, and evolving workplace culture are killing the 'empty suit' leader. From Silicon Valley's trenches to corporate boardrooms, discover why authenticity is replacing authority, and why rolling up your sleeves might be the new key to power in modern business.

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

Support HR Heretics Sponsor:

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KEEP UP WITH NOLAN, + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

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LINK/S:

The Empty Suit Executive by Tyler Hogge

https://tylerhogge.com/2024/10/16/the-empty-suit-executive/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:29) The Empty Suit Executive

(03:43) Shift in Management Styles and the Rise of Doers

(05:34) Clash Between Founders and "Empty Suit" Executives

(06:17) The Changing Dynamics of Large Tech Companies

(07:17) Venture-Backed Companies as a Bellwether

(09:00) Sponsor: MetaView

(10:06) Recognizing Our Own "Empty Suit" Tendencies

(11:30) Building a Brand and Leading by Example

(12:40) New Era of Leadership

(13:30) Adaptability in a Competitive Landscape

(14:04) The Rise of AI

(14:36) Wrap

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

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