I Hate It Here

S6 E6: Your Leadership Era Starts Now with Jessica Winder

Nov 25, 2024

Jessica Winder, author and SVP of people, dives into the messy world of leadership. She emphasizes that leadership is a learned skill, not an inherent trait. Vulnerability is essential for effective leadership, and balancing empathy with decision-making is crucial. Jessica shares her journey from traditional authority to empowering leadership, debunks myths, and highlights key qualities that differentiate good leaders from great ones. She also draws parallels between parenting challenges and leadership lessons, making her insights relatable and engaging.

46:50

Episode guests

Jessica Winder

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Effective leadership is a learned skill that requires balancing empathy with performance expectations while embracing vulnerability and resilience.

Detaching personal feelings from professional feedback is crucial for leaders to foster growth, communication, and a supportive work environment.

Deep dives

The Importance of Not Taking Feedback Personally

A key insight shared is the necessity of detaching personal feelings from professional feedback. Leaders must cultivate resilience to accept criticism without internalizing it as a personal failure. Embracing feedback as a tool for growth rather than a source of discouragement leads to a more productive and harmonious work environment. This mentality fosters better communication, allowing leaders to evolve and effectively guide their teams.

Intro

2min

Juggling Family Life and Professional Responsibilities

2min

The Evolution of Leadership: From Authority to Empowerment

21min

Key Qualities of Effective Leadership

3min

The Power of Self-Awareness in Leadership

2min

Resilience and Empathy in Leadership

13min

Leadership Lessons from Parenting: Embracing Patience

2min

Hot take: Nobody is inherently a good leader. Being a leader is a learned skill.

What does it really take to be a good leader?

It’s not about being perfect, having all the answers, or walking in like a natural-born boss! Leadership is messy, vulnerable, and learned.

In this episode, my unofficial co-host (and leadership guru) Jessica Winder is back to break it all down.

We talk about why vulnerability is a must (not an option), how to lead when you have zero authority, and why leadership isn’t a natural-born trait—it’s a skill you grow over time.

Now, Working Not Working is helping to keep that talent with NTRNL— the new platform that unlocks employee passions and ignites productivity. So you can see your people as they see themselves: as humans, not headcount. Visit seeyourpeople.com to learn more or book a demo.

00:01:35 - Jessica’s Background

00:03:45 - One Thing That HR People Should Rethink

00:06:30 - What Does it Mean to be a Leader?

00:11:57 - How Jessica’s Leadership Style Evolved Over the Years

00:16:13 - When Jessica Realized Leadership as Her Zone of Genius

00:19:20 - Common Myths About Leadership, Debunked

00:23:38 - What Qualities Differentiate a Good Leader From a Great Leader?

00:30:40 - Balancing Empathy and Decision-making as a Leader

00:36:48 - Advice for People Stepping Into Their First Leadership Role

00:38:27 - What Leadership Could Look Like in 5-10 Years

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/

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