425. The Art of Modern Leadership with Dr. Kirstin Ferguson
Nov 6, 2023
auto_awesome
Dr. Kirstin Ferguson, an award-winning author and seasoned leader, discusses the essence of modern leadership in her latest book. She emphasizes the significance of self-awareness, feedback, and the power of every individual as a leader. Dr. Ferguson shares insights on nurturing a feedback culture, the importance of having a coach, and the impact of small moments of leadership. Her perspective on measuring feedback aligns with having a mentor to gauge progress towards goals.
Balancing head and heart is essential in modern leadership, involving attributes like curiosity, wisdom, perspective, capability, humility, self-awareness, courage, and empathy.
Creating a culture of open and safe feedback is crucial in effective leadership, requiring leaders to seek feedback, have a clear plan for success, and involve the recipient in the process.
Psychological safety is key in leadership, requiring leaders to prioritize trust, open communication, a no-blame mindset, and creating an environment where diverse perspectives are encouraged.
Deep dives
Importance of Leading with Head and Heart
Leading with both head and heart is essential in modern leadership. It involves balancing four head-based attributes: curiosity, wisdom, perspective, and capability. Curiosity is undervalued in the workplace, but it can lead to valuable insights. Wisdom involves making informed decisions and gathering relevant data. Perspective is about reading the room and understanding the context and the people involved. Capability includes having a growth mindset and building capable leaders. On the other hand, leading with the heart involves four attributes: humility, self-awareness, courage, and empathy. Humility is about recognizing what we don't know and seeking knowledge. Self-awareness is understanding our impact on others, which often requires feedback from trusted sources. Courage is standing up for what we believe in, even in the face of pressure. Empathy is the ability to understand and connect with others' experiences. Balancing these attributes is crucial in effective leadership, and it requires ongoing learning and adaptation.
The Role of Feedback in Leadership
Feedback plays a significant role in leadership, but it can be challenging to give and receive effectively. Creating a culture of open and safe feedback is crucial. Leaders should seek feedback from trusted sources to weed out valuable insights from personal perspectives. When providing feedback, it is important to have a clear plan for success and involve the recipient in the process. Additionally, leaders should inquire about the next steps, convey gratitude, and create a partnership for improvement. On the receiving end, leaders should stay curious, ask questions, and seek to understand the feedback without getting defensive. They should also test the feedback with trusted voices and take action on valuable insights.
Building Psychological Safety and Trust
Psychological safety is essential in leadership, especially in remote work environments. To create a safe culture, leaders should prioritize trust, open communication, and a no-blame mindset. Psychological safety allows team members to speak up, share feedback, and contribute to decision-making. It requires leaders to be open to learning, seek advice, and be open-minded. Leaders should also consider the word-to-wisdom ratio, focusing on quality over quantity when speaking, and fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are encouraged and valued. Creating psychological safety takes time, trial and error, and ongoing commitment.
The Art of Balancing Head and Heart in Leadership
Balancing head and heart is the art of modern leadership. It involves knowing what's needed and when in different situations. This art requires trial and error, seeking advice, and constant learning. Leaders must be open to feedback and perspectives from others, and they should avoid dominating conversations or imposing their perspectives. The balance between head-based attributes like curiosity, wisdom, perspective, and capability, and heart-based attributes like humility, self-awareness, courage, and empathy is crucial. Leaders should adapt their leadership style based on the context, reading the room, and recognizing the moving target nature of leadership. It's important to remember that no leader is perfect, and ongoing learning and growth are necessary.
The Power of Everyone Being a Leader
Everyone has the opportunity to be a leader, regardless of position or title. Leadership extends beyond formal roles and can be exhibited in families, communities, and workplaces. Embracing this mindset allows individuals to recognize their impact on those around them and to lead from the front, regardless of their position. Leadership is not solely reserved for those with power or authority. Even small acts of leadership can have a significant impact. By embracing the idea that everyone is a leader, individuals can inspire and bring positive change in their own spheres of influence.
In a world where the dynamics of leadership are constantly evolving, understanding the essence of effective leadership is crucial. This episode of The ONE Thing Podcast sheds light on the modern-day nuances of leading with a blend of intellect and empathy, featuring the wisdom of Dr. Kirstin Ferguson—an award-winning author, recognized thinker, and a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience spanning over three decades.
Dr. Ferguson unravels the essence of modern leadership in her latest book, Head and Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership. This book is not just a guide, but a mirror reflecting the virtues indispensable for a contemporary leader. Our conversation dives deep into the pragmatic yet compassionate facets of leadership, emphasizing the significance of self-awareness, feedback, and the undervalued power of every individual as a leader, regardless of title or position.
Dr. Ferguson shares actionable insights on nurturing a culture of feedback, the importance of having a coach for an objective perspective, and how the seemingly small moments of leadership are the building blocks of a monumental impact. Her perspective on measuring, giving, and receiving feedback resonates with the philosophy of having a mentor to guide you, to provide a fresh perspective in gauging your progress towards your goals.
To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.
If you can change your habits, you can change your life.
If you want to create healthy habits around skincare, Caldera + Lab has you covered. Caldera + Lab creates high-performance men’s skincare products, with The Regimen leading their product lineup. This twice a day routine will transform your skin.
Use the code ONE at CalderaLab.com and save 20% off your purchase.
