Are You A Humble Leader? with Edgar & Peter Schein
Dec 3, 2020
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Join Professor Edgar Schein, a renowned expert on organizational culture, and his son Peter Schein, a veteran in marketing and corporate development. They delve into the transformative power of humble leadership and humble inquiry in shaping workplace culture. Ed clarifies how culture forms through shared experiences, while Peter discusses barriers to inquiry. Practical tips for fostering humility in leadership highlight adaptability in a complex environment. Their insights encourage genuine connections and effective communication, emphasizing the importance of recognizing humanity in others.
Humble leadership emphasizes collaboration over hierarchy, encouraging leaders to engage with their teams for effective problem-solving and innovation.
Humble inquiry fosters deeper connections by treating individuals as whole people, promoting genuine curiosity and vulnerability in workplace interactions.
Deep dives
Understanding Workplace Culture
Culture in the workplace is defined as the shared learning of a group, emphasizing that it is rooted in collective experiences rather than mere declarations of desired behaviors. Effective culture change requires conscious decisions by group members to adopt new behaviors that align with positive beliefs and values. This process is essential for creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing and trying new approaches that lead to better outcomes. Relationships within the group are crucial for this transformation, as they foster an atmosphere of collaboration and openness to change.
The Importance of Humble Leadership
Humble leadership is grounded in the acceptance of uncertainty and the acknowledgment that leaders do not have all the answers. This concept emphasizes that leadership should be seen as a process of collaboration rather than a hierarchical directive. In today's unpredictable world, characterized by volatility and ambiguity, humble leadership encourages leaders to engage their team members in problem-solving and innovation, thus fostering a culture of shared responsibility. By adopting 'here and now humility', leaders can invite contributions from all team members, allowing diverse insights to surface for better decision-making.
The Role of Humble Inquiry
Humble inquiry is an approach that focuses on treating others as whole individuals rather than mere transactional roles, fostering deeper understanding and connection. It involves asking questions with the genuine intention of learning from others, showcasing an attitude of curiosity and vulnerability. By prioritizing personal connections and opening up dialogues, leaders can create a culture of inquiry that enables better collaboration and innovation. Practical applications of humble inquiry include revealing personal experiences during discussions, prompting others to share their thoughts and feelings, and fostering an environment of support and curiosity.
Today we’re talking to Professor Edgar Shein and Peter Shein. Ed and his son Peter together co-founded the Organizational Culture and Leadership Institute (OCLI.org) and have together published the award-winning Humble Leadership and Culture + Change + Leadership: The Corporate Culture Survival Guide, along with the upcoming second edition of Humble Inquiry that will be released in 2021.
Ed is Professor Emeritus of MIT’s Sloan School of Management. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University, has consulted and published extensively, and has been the recipient of two-lifetime achievement awards. Peter’s unique work draws on 30 years of industry experience in marketing and corporate development at technology pioneers including Apple, SGI, Sun Microsystems, and numerous internet start-ups.
In this week’s podcast, we explore how humble leadership and humble inquiry can help to improve our workplace cultures.
Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
Until next time, take care! Thank you, Edgar & Peter!
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