PPP 456 | Navigating Ambiguity with Confidence, with Kevin Eikenberry

In this discussion, Andy welcomes back Kevin Eikenberry to talk about his new book Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence. They discuss how leadership complexity increases with career progression and how Kevin’s book offers practical guidance on managing ambiguity. The conversation delves into the concept of flexible leadership, the impact of uncertainty versus fear, the importance of context in decision-making, and why organizations should be seen as both machines and organisms. They also touch on the significance of rituals and handling paradoxes in leadership.

If you're looking for insights on how to lead and deliver despite uncertainty and ambiguity, this episode is for you!

• “Leadership in many ways hasn't changed for centuries.”
• “Fear has an endpoint... Anxiety has no end. And that's such a bigger challenge for us.”
• “We should be thinking pilot, not policy.”
• “Are organizations more like machines or more like organisms? Well, both are true.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:54 Start of Interview
• 00:24 What HASN'T Changed With Leadership
• 04:00 What Does Kevin NOT Mean by 'Flexible' Leadership?
• 06:19 Understanding Uncertainty and Fear
• 08:25 The Sense-Making Framework
• 12:58 Organizations: Machines or Organisms?
• 15:50 System One vs. System Two Thinking
• 18:29 Autopilot vs. Deliberate Decision Making
• 18:51 Understanding Flexors: Compliance vs. Commitment
• 19:11 The Flexor Concept in Leadership
• 22:53 Habits vs. Rituals: Navigating Uncertainty
• 25:49 Parenting and Leadership: Building Confidence
• 28:20 End of Interview
• 28:39 Andy's Comments After the Interview
• 33:13 Outtakes

You can learn more about Kevin and his book at KevinEikenberry.com/Flexible-Leadership.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 54 with Roger L. Martin about his book The Opposable Mind
• Episode 47 with Henry Mintzberg about his book on why management is what we think it is.
• Episodes 360 and 455 with Janet Polach about her books to help us avoid mistakes as we grow as leaders.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Project Management, Uncertainty, Fear, Organizational Behavior, Leadership Styles, Habits, Rituals, Ambiguity

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license