How Leaders Lead with David Novak #274: Chuck Robbins, Chairman & CEO, Cisco – Adapt your leadership style
7 snips
Jan 15, 2026 Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO of Cisco, has pioneered human-centered leadership while overseeing major business transformations. In this engaging conversation, he emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership styles to navigate change. Robbins shares his insights on the benefits of honest communication, cultivating partnerships, and viewing customer crises as hidden opportunities. He also discusses the critical role of self-awareness and continuous learning in leadership, highlighting the need to remain grounded and authentically human in today's dynamic environment.
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Pants Patterson Golf Story
- Chuck tells the story of his CFO Mark Patterson buying new pants and suddenly playing better golf, earning the nickname "Pants Patterson."
- The playful story stuck and even spread inside Cisco as a running joke.
Dominance Requires Continuous Innovation
- Cisco must continually innovate because competition and customer dual-vendor strategies prevent control of market transitions.
- Chuck Robbins says market dominance doesn't guarantee future control; competition keeps them sharp.
Respond Fast And Stay In The Trenches
- When a customer has an outage, respond immediately and stay in the trenches until recovery.
- Smother the customer with communication and hands-on support to strengthen the relationship.