Betsy Myers, a prominent expert in women's leadership and a senior advisor with deep experience in corporate and government sectors, shares her insights on effective leadership. She discusses the importance of balancing emotional connection with intellectual competence, fostering psychological safety, and creating unity in a divided world. Betsy also delves into gender bias challenges women face at work, highlighting the need for systemic change. Additionally, she emphasizes the vital role father-daughter relationships play in building self-esteem and emotional health.
Effective leadership merges emotional intelligence with strategic clarity, fostering psychological safety and aligned team efforts towards shared goals.
Building authentic relationships is essential for leaders to combat isolation and enhance team motivation, particularly in a virtual environment.
Deep dives
The Integration of Head and Heart in Leadership
Effective leadership requires a balance between emotional intelligence and strategic thinking, often referred to as the integration of head and heart. Leaders who connect with their team on an emotional level create an environment of psychological safety, which allows team members to express their ideas and opinions freely. This approach fosters trust and commitment, enabling leaders to motivate their teams towards a shared vision. As illustrated by Betsy Myers’ experiences with both President Clinton and President Obama, a leader's ability to bridge the gap between intellect and empathy significantly influences the morale and productivity of their teams.
Clarity of Mission and Strategy
Having a clear mission and strategy is crucial for organizational success, as it focuses efforts and resources on achieving specific goals. Betsy Myers shared insights from the Obama campaign, highlighting how clarity about winning Iowa shaped campaign strategies and decisions. This intentional focus not only galvanized the campaign but also provided a model for prioritizing objectives amid distractions. Leaders should ensure that their teams are aware of their main goals, effectively asking, 'What's your Iowa?' to maintain alignment and purpose in their work.
Human Connection and Leadership
Human connection plays a vital role in effective leadership, particularly in an era where many interactions are virtual. Leaders must prioritize building authentic relationships with their team members to combat feelings of isolation and disconnection that have risen during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging with team members on a personal level enhances their sense of belonging and can lead to increased motivation. The conversation emphasized the importance of designing for connection and understanding that leadership is fundamentally about fostering a community where individuals feel valued.
Navigating Partisanship and Promoting Unity
The current political landscape demonstrates a growing divide, making it essential for leaders to promote unity and understanding across differing viewpoints. Observations from Betsy Myers indicate that effective leadership requires a willingness to engage in dialogue with those who hold opposing views, emphasizing the power of curiosity and empathy. This ability to connect with others on shared values can help bridge divides and foster collaboration. As leaders navigate these challenges, it becomes increasingly important to focus on common ground and work towards solutions that benefit all constituents.
Betsy Myers is on a mission to improve leadership by developing leaders and teams who infuse passion and purpose into their organizations by leading from both the head and the heart.
With over three decades as a thought leader, author, speaker, and consultant, Betsy is a renowned expert on emerging leadership trends and women’s leadership. Her extensive experience includes working with corporate, government, non-profit, and higher education leaders. She is the author of Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You.
Betsy is currently a Senior Advisor at the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute at the University of Cincinnati. She also serves on the Council on Advancing Women in Business for the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
A senior adviser to two U.S. presidents, Betsy served as President Clinton’s Advisor on Women’s Issues, was the first Director of the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, and was Chief Operating Officer of President Obama’s 2008 National Presidential Campaign.
Previously, Betsy was founding director of the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University, a repository of best practices for corporations to recruit and retain women leaders. She was Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School, focusing the Center’s teaching and research around authentic inner leadership. She held leadership roles in the U.S. Small Business Administration, including as the Director of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership at the SBA where she was an advocate for the 9.4 million women entrepreneurs in the United States.
Betsy has a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
A Quote From This Episode
"There's a lot more we agree on than we disagree on...we have to move away from this 'othering.' We 'other' people - 'they're different from me, they're bad.'"
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