"Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership" by Kirstin Ferguson
Jan 8, 2024
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Join Kirstin Ferguson, author of the book 'Head & Heart', as she shares five indispensable leadership tips. Explore the concept of modern leadership and the need for analytical thinking and emotional intelligence. Learn the importance of self-awareness and the significance of leading with perspective and including diverse voices. Discover actionable strategies to become a great leader.
Modern leaders combine rational and emotional aspects, recognizing impactful moments to lead effectively.
Modern leadership includes everyone, regardless of formal titles, by being conscious of words and actions that influence others.
Deep dives
Leading with Head and Heart
Modern leaders are those who can effectively lead with their head and heart, incorporating rational and emotional aspects. Kirsten Ferguson, a business executive, speaker, and coach, emphasizes that every moment is an opportunity for leadership and impact. These impactful moments can range from positive experiences where leaders see potential in others, listen, welcome feedback, and respect different viewpoints, to negative experiences where leaders undermine, question expertise, or belittle others. To be an effective modern leader, it is crucial to recognize these moments, be self-aware of their impact, and integrate leadership qualities across all contexts of life.
Everyone is a Leader
Contrary to the traditional view that leadership is only for those with power and authority, modern leadership expands the definition to include everyone. Regardless of formal titles or roles, individuals can leave a leadership impact in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Ferguson shares a powerful anecdote of a young checkout operator displaying leadership qualities by patiently explaining the importance of wearing a face mask to an irate customer. To be an effective modern leader, it is essential to recognize one's own leadership impact and be conscious of the words and actions that influence others.
The Head and Heart Attributes
Ferguson identifies four attributes of leading with the head: curiosity, wisdom, perspective, and capability. Additionally, she highlights four attributes of leading with the heart: humility, self-awareness, courage, and empathy. Modern leadership is about understanding how to balance and apply these attributes in the right situations. Self-awareness, especially being aware of limitations, serves as the foundation for all other attributes. Leaders should monitor their word to wisdom ratio, focusing on adding value through thoughtful contributions. Furthermore, leaders who can read a room, demonstrate perspective, and notice who is missing from the conversation can make better decisions and create a more inclusive environment.
Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? Find out by listening to Kirstin Ferguson, who joins us to share five indispensable leadership tips from her new book, "Head & Heart," which Adam Grant calls "a timely, actionable book on the virtues that every great leader needs to learn."
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