Dare to Lead with Brené Brown

Brené with Megan Reitz and John Higgins on Leading in an Age of Employee Activism

Feb 28, 2022

Brené Brown talks with Megan Reitz and John Higgins about leading in an age of employee activism. They discuss creating 'Speak Up, Listen Up' cultures, navigating power dynamics, recognizing advantage blindness, and fostering dialogic engagement within organizations. The conversation also touches on societal advantages, collective decision-making, and the importance of concerns alignment. Additionally, they reveal personal insights through music playlists and emphasize the power of actively listening in activism.

01:13:36

Episode guests

Megan Reitz

John Higgins

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Leaders must embrace learning and humility to navigate employee activism.

Organizations need to move beyond surface-level responses towards genuine listening and action.

Creating inclusive spaces for dialogue on social issues is crucial for fostering a culture of authenticity.

Deep dives

Employee Activism and Organizational Power Dynamics

Employee activism in organizations is on the rise, challenging traditional power dynamics. Companies are facing increased pressure from employees and stakeholders to address wider societal and environmental issues. Leaders are now grappling with the need to listen and respond to employee voices on complex issues like climate change, diversity, and social justice.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Leadership, Activism, and Speaking Truth to Power in the Workplace

3min

Navigating Conversations on Power and Activism in Organizations

33min

Recognizing Advantage Blindness and Facadeism in Corporate Culture

7min

Employee Activism and Organizational Dialogue

10min

Navigating Power, Truth, and Concerns Alignment in Organizations

14min

Revealing Personal Insights Through Music Playlists

2min

Exploring Activism and the Power of Listening

3min

I’m talking to Megan Reitz, a professor of leadership and dialogue, and John Higgins, a researcher and author, about an article they published in the MIT Sloan Management Review titled “Leading in an Age of Employee Activism.” It’s a huge topic in every organization I talk to, and I can say, as an employer and an activist — leading a team filled with organizers and activists — that this is definitely an important issue. We talk about what it takes to make a difference, to do the internal work, and to give leaders the skills to lead with advocacy in the modern workplace.

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Dare to Lead with Brené Brown

Brené with Megan Reitz and John Higgins on Leading in an Age of Employee Activism

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Employee Activism and Organizational Power Dynamics

Challenges Faced by Leaders in Addressing Activism

Responses to Employee Activism in Organizations

Activism and Organizational Change

Employee Activism and Organizational Awareness

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts