Truth, Lies and Work 217. What makes a better boss? With The Economist’s Andrew Palmer, host of Boss Class Podcast
Andrew Palmer has spoken to the head executives form Stripe, Netflix, LinkedIN, Google, Toyota - and he's uncovered the counterintuitive leadership lessons from all of them!
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this is your Thursday deep-dive with a workplace expert.
🎙️ This Week’s Guest: Andrew Palmer Bartleby columnist and senior editor at The Economist, Andrew is also the host of Boss Class — a podcast that goes behind the scenes with the leaders of some of the world’s most admired companies.
From Toyota to Netflix, IKEA to Unilever, Andrew’s spent the last year asking one deceptively simple question: What makes a better boss?
In this conversation, he shares the themes that kept coming up — and the surprising patterns that didn’t.
💡 Key Takeaways from Andrew Palmer
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Great bosses know when to shut up. The best leaders don’t try to win the room. They create the space for others to think — and listen before they speak.
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Trust is built slowly — and breaks fast. The CEOs who lead well focus less on controlling people and more on designing systems that earn trust every day.
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There’s no ‘one way’ to lead. From the founder of Patagonia to the CEO of Toyota, the styles vary wildly. But what they share is a clear sense of purpose — and an ability to reflect on their own behaviour.
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Being a boss means learning constantly. The best leaders aren’t finished products. They’re works in progress who stay curious, ask questions, and remain open to being wrong.
🔗 Find out more Andrew Palmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-palmer-a3012a3/ Boss Class podcast: https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/boss-class
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