HBR IdeaCast

Frances Frei, a Harvard Business School professor and co-author of "Unleashed," shares her insights on effective leadership. She emphasizes the importance of trust, empathy, and even tough love. Frei discusses how successful leaders focus on their impact on others and create a culture that drives performance. She also explores the balance between accountability and support, along with lessons from Peru on merit-based recognition. Finally, Frei advocates for redefining cultural values to enhance workplace health at companies like Uber.

Darrell Rigby, a partner at Bain & Company and co-author of 'The Agile C-Suite', discusses the swift adoption of agile principles during the pandemic. He emphasizes the need for organizations to maintain their newfound nimbleness by empowering decision-making at lower levels and streamlining processes. Rigby highlights the importance of agile leadership and its application beyond tech sectors like Amazon and Microsoft. He also warns against reverting to bureaucratic methods and shares insights on building sustainable systems for ongoing adaptability and success.

Ken Banta, founder of the Vanguard Network, and Orlin Boston, Partner at Ernst & Young, advocate for strategic side gigs as essential tools for aspiring leaders. They discuss how meaningful side projects can enhance skills and networking, aligning personal passions with professional growth. The duo emphasizes the importance of intentionality and balancing these gigs with workplace dynamics, while also exploring ways managers can support employee development. They reveal insights on leveraging AI for competitive edge, showcasing the evolving landscape of career opportunities.

Mark Johnson, a senior partner at Innosight and co-author of 'Lead from the Future,' emphasizes the importance of future-oriented strategies for leaders. He argues that focusing too much on present problems hinders growth. Johnson shares practical steps to envision the future and align organizational strategies accordingly. He discusses adapting business models to shifting customer needs and emphasizes the integration of visionary thinking for breakthrough growth. With insights on online education and M&A success, he offers a transformative approach to leadership.

Myriam Sidibe, a public health expert and senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, discusses the powerful role of brands in driving social change. She shares insights from her experience, including a successful hand-washing campaign for Lifebuoy soap which benefitted both public health and sales. Sidibe emphasizes the importance of authenticity in mission-driven marketing, the need for long-term commitment to social causes, and how companies can align with sustainable development goals to foster meaningful connections and ensure lasting impact.

Rita McGrath, a renowned professor from Columbia Business School and co-author of a pivotal article on digital transformation, stresses the urgent need for companies to adapt their digital strategies amid accelerating change. She advocates for a discovery-driven approach, focusing on small, manageable experiments rather than risky, large-scale changes. McGrath highlights the vital role of effective communication and leadership during crises while sharing insights on how organizations like Best Buy successfully navigated rapid digital shifts during the pandemic.

Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General and author of "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World," delves into the growing epidemic of loneliness that has taken hold in workplaces, worsened by the pandemic. He emphasizes the negative health impacts of social isolation and advocates for fostering authentic connections among colleagues. Murthy introduces strategies for enhancing emotional bonds through structured interactions and highlights the crucial role of community in overcoming loneliness.

Eric McNulty, associate director of Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative and co-author of “You’re It,” discusses crucial crisis management lessons. He highlights how leaders can avoid common pitfalls, emphasizing the benefits of empowering teams rather than micromanaging. McNulty explains that companies prioritizing people over profits tend to navigate crises more effectively. He also addresses the importance of compassion in leadership and long-term planning, illustrating these points with examples from past disasters and the ongoing pandemic.

Alex Lazarow, a venture capitalist at Cathay Innovation and author of "Out-Innovate," explores entrepreneurial success beyond Silicon Valley. He highlights innovative ecosystems emerging globally, from Nairobi to Dubai, challenging conventional success models. Lazarow contrasts growth-centric strategies of Silicon Valley with the adaptable approaches of frontier entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the importance of customer impact, resilience, and the value of diverse talent pools, showcasing examples like M-Pesa that represent the future of global entrepreneurship.

Stewart Friedman, an organizational psychologist from The Wharton School, and Alyssa Westring, an associate professor at DePaul University, explore the synergy between parenting and leadership. They debunk the myth of work-life balance, advocating for a collaborative approach instead. Their insights reveal that the skills honed in leadership can enhance parenting and vice versa. They share effective strategies for managing home and career, emphasizing intentionality, reflection, and the evolving roles in family dynamics to create a fulfilling life.