Balancing Business and People in Leadership with Harsha Jalihal
Nov 30, 2023
auto_awesome
Harsha Jalihal, Chief People Officer at MongoDB, discusses balancing business needs with employee needs, understanding human behavior, building trust through authenticity, and managing stress and burnout. Key topics include employee motivations, trust-building, conflict resolution, and handling stress among salespeople.
Balancing business needs with employee needs is crucial for successful leadership.
Understanding human behavior leads to better motivation and management.
Embracing adversities and cultivating an owner's mindset are vital aspects of leadership.
Deep dives
Understanding the Balance Between Business Support and Employee Care
Maintaining a balance between supporting the business and caring for employees is crucial. A successful HR approach involves understanding human behavior in the workplace. By recognizing the intersection between business needs and employee well-being, better outcomes can be achieved. Understanding human behavior allows for better motivation and management, leading to improved business results and employee satisfaction.
Navigating Intense Growth and Employee Motivations
In periods of intense company growth, employees are motivated by the challenge and impact they can make. While growth may appear glamorous, it requires dedication and hard work. Individuals vary in their readiness for such challenges, and it is essential for employees to align personal motivations with the demands of a growing company. Acknowledging the intensity of working in a growing company is vital for both personal and professional satisfaction.
Embracing Adversity and Learning for Professional Growth
Leadership involves embracing adversity and learning in challenging situations. Adversity showcases a leader's true character and abilities during tough times. Development and coaching play a significant role in employee success. Understanding employee motivations, effective coaching, and self-reflection are key elements in nurturing a successful and motivated workforce.
Developing an Owner's Mindset in Leadership Roles
As individuals transition to more senior positions within a company, the mindset shift from functional leader to a company leader becomes crucial. This shift involves prioritizing the company's success over individual roles and responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of thinking and acting like an owner. Regardless of one's position in the organizational hierarchy, cultivating an owner's mindset is essential for aligning individual efforts with the overarching mission of the company.
Building Trust Through Credibility, Reliability, and Intimacy
Building trust within teams involves implementing the trust equation, which comprises credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. Success in developing trust hinges on showcasing competence, fulfilling commitments reliably, and investing in relationships. Effective communication, active listening, and understanding the perspectives of others are vital components in building trust. Trust is reinforced by demonstrating authenticity, supporting team members, and fostering an environment where individuals feel heard and supported.
Harsha Jalihal is the Chief People Officer at MongoDB. She has a background in HR and has worked in various leadership roles at companies like Cognizant and Unilever.
In this episode, Harsha emphasizes the importance of balancing the needs of the business with the needs of the employees. She discusses the role of different departments in driving business outcomes and highlights the significance of understanding human behavior and motivations. Harsha also emphasizes the role of trust in building strong relationships and the importance of authenticity and transparency in leadership. She shares insights on managing conflicts, setting clear expectations, and addressing stress and burnout, particularly among salespeople.
Tune in to this conversation with John McMahon and John Kaplan on the Revenue Builders podcast.
HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT
[00:03:01] Balancing the needs of the business and employees [00:08:55] Understanding individual employee motivations [00:12:59] Embracing reality and being direct leads to success [00:15:48] The power of being honest and authentic as a leader [00:18:06] Trusting gut instincts and giving people space and time [00:22:23] Importance of giving feedback to employees about performance issues [00:29:11] Enjoyment of work environment and culture impacts employee retention [00:39:20] Trust is built through credibility, reliability, and selflessness [00:47:38] Handling conflicting motivations and emphasizing the bigger objective [00:55:00] Employee motivations in a changing economy
[00:51:59] "It's how their words land. The impact they're having is what causes the problem. Sometimes you have to help them see how they are showing up, how the other person is perceiving it. Because when you're in the moment, you don't see it, but a 3rd person watching this interaction between 2 people can see it." [00:57:28] "I think employees are starting to look for slightly different things. Now, even in the technology industry, you talk to our recruiters. They'll tell you simple things like they want just what they just want stability because they've seen so much upheaval up and down. They want to work for a company that is still growing as opposed to a company that's laying people off."
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
