Kevin Lobo, CEO of Stryker, shares insights on driving innovation in healthcare. The podcast explores the power of strengths in leadership and the role of achiever as a CEO. It also discusses achieving balance and effective time management, the power of positivity in leadership, and the importance of listening at scale and effective communication.
Strengths-based leadership is a more effective approach, focusing on individual strengths rather than weaknesses.
Finding balance as a leader is crucial, managing activator and achiever strengths to make strategic decisions and avoid overwhelming the organization with too many initiatives.
Deep dives
The Power of Strengths-Based Leadership
Kevin Lobo, CEO of Striker, discusses the power of strengths-based leadership and the impact it has had on his own career. Lobo shares his experience of taking the StrengthsFinder test and learning about his top strengths, including individualization, learner, achiever, activator, and positivity. He emphasizes the importance of using these strengths in leadership roles and highlights how individualization helps him relate to different people and adapt his leadership style accordingly. Lobo also discusses the balance between achiever and activator strengths, highlighting the need to slow down and make strategic decisions rather than creating chaos with too many initiatives. Overall, Lobo believes that focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses is a more effective approach to leadership.
The Impact of Individualization and Learner Strengths
Lobo delves into the impact of his individualization and learner strengths on his leadership style and decision-making. He explains how individualization allows him to understand people better and adapt his behavior to different individuals and situations. Lobo shares how he leverages his learner strength to continuously ask questions, seek knowledge, and make more informed decisions. He emphasizes the importance of being adaptable in different environments and industries, and how his strengths have helped him develop his business acumen and build good judgment. Lobo also discusses the significance of curiosity and constant learning in leadership roles.
Finding Balance as a Leader
Lobo discusses the importance of finding balance as a leader, particularly with regards to his achiever and activator strengths. He reflects on the need to avoid overwhelming the organization with too many initiatives and the necessity of slowing down to make well-formulated decisions. Lobo shares his experience of relying on his team to help regulate his activator strength and prevent it from becoming a detriment. He also emphasizes the importance of self-regulation and finding ways to manage and modulate his strengths to maintain a balanced leadership approach.
The Power of Positivity and Effective Communication
Lobo highlights the power of positivity in leadership and its impact on motivation, team dynamics, and organizational culture. He discusses his natural inclination towards positivity and maintaining a positive outlook even in challenging times. Lobo emphasizes the importance of simplifying communication and repetition to effectively convey messages and keep teams aligned. He shares how he uses simple, repetitive messages around organizational priorities to provide hope, inspire action, and create a sense of unity within the organization. Lobo also highlights the need for balance between positivity and addressing negative aspects, ensuring realistic and transparent communication.
In this episode, we are excited to welcome Kevin Lobo, CEO of Stryker. With a career marked by his commitment to driving innovation and improving healthcare outcomes, Kevin’s insights offer a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, medical science, and business leadership. His experiences have been honed through years of dedicated work, a passion for improving lives, and a deep understanding of the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers.
His work in advancing surgical solutions, medical devices, and patient-focused innovations showcases his dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Kevin’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Individualization, Learner, Achiever, Activator and Positivity.
