Leading People Embracing Uncertainty: How to Lead and Thrive in an Unpredictable World
In this episode…
Margaret Heffernan joins the Leading People podcast to challenge our dangerous addiction to certainty and predictability. Drawing from her latest book "Embracing Uncertainty," she reveals why the traditional management approach - forecast, plan, execute - is fundamentally broken in today's volatile world. When the first leg of this three-legged stool collapses, everything else follows.
What makes this conversation so compelling is Margaret's unique perspective, bridging her experience as a CEO with deep research into how creative professionals - writers, musicians, filmmakers, artists - naturally thrive in uncertainty. These creators don't just tolerate the unknown; they actively seek it out as the fertile ground where breakthroughs happen. The stark contrast with today's corporate environments is telling: we're producing highly credentialed professionals who excel at following instructions but freeze when asked to navigate ambiguity.
Margaret offers practical wisdom for leaders wanting to break free from this trap. She examines how WL Gore's elegant three-question innovation framework makes idea development accessible to everyone, why performance management systems often strangle creativity, and how companies can build innovation into their everyday operations rather than relegating it to specialized departments. Her insights on efficiency are particularly provocative.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing technology and AI.
Margaret cuts through the hype with characteristic clarity, questioning whether these tools will deliver the promised benefits and examining the often-overlooked costs. Her perspective isn't anti-technology but rather a call for technology that genuinely serves human flourishing rather than diminishing it.
Curious?
Whether you're facing uncertainty in your leadership role, struggling with innovation challenges, or simply curious about how to thrive in an unpredictable world, this episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance.
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