HBR On Leadership

In this engaging discussion, Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford and host of Think Fast, Talk Smart, shares his expertise on impromptu speaking. He emphasizes the importance of spontaneous communication for leaders, offering tips on managing anxiety and crafting compelling messages on the fly. Matt introduces the 'What, So What, Now What' structure for structuring responses and suggests strategies for sounding natural and memorable. His insights include using pauses and nonverbal cues to enhance delivery while embracing imperfection to connect better with audiences.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Amishi Jha, a renowned neuroscientist and author of Peak Mind, delves into the challenges of maintaining focus in an increasingly distracting world. She discusses how our brains are designed to wander and how modern technology exacerbates this issue. Amishi introduces the three attention systems and shares practical mindfulness techniques to strengthen focus at work. By implementing simple exercises like the STOP method, listeners can enhance their leadership skills and foster better relationships in high-pressure environments.

Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at the Wharton School and author of The Catalyst, reveals why traditional persuasion tactics often fail. He emphasizes that pushing people usually backfires. Instead, he suggests asking questions to help individuals feel in control of their decisions. Berger discusses how providing choices can lower resistance and mentions common barriers to change like reactance and loss aversion. He shares strategies for persuading colleagues and even negotiating for raises, highlighting the importance of guided conversation.

Nathan Furr, a strategy professor at INSEAD and coauthor of "Innovation Capital," dives into the fascinating concept of innovation capital—an essential power for motivating teams and gaining stakeholder buy-in. He shares insights from leaders like Mark Benioff and explains how innovation capital can be built and lost. Through storytelling techniques used by figures like Elon Musk, Furr discusses how to amplify ideas authentically and enhance one's influence as a leader. It's a deep exploration of leadership dynamics and the art of persuasion.

Anne Curzan, a Professor of English at the University of Michigan, dives into the world of business jargon, defending its role in workplace culture. She explores how jargon reveals insights about organizational dynamics and relationships. Curzan explains the origins of buzzwords like 'think outside the box' and why they can annoy some. She warns against using sports metaphors with international audiences and discusses how English became the global business language, highlighting the implications of its evolving role.

Explore the challenges of leading teams when the road ahead is uncertain. Discover strategies for defining success and reverse-engineering goals. The discussion emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum amid shifting priorities and external collaborations. Learn how to balance planning and flexibility while prioritizing meaningful conversations. Find out about setting measurable milestones that align with long-term visions, and embrace the concept of 'realistic optimism' as a guiding principle in leadership.

Corey Phelps, the Dean of Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and coauthor of Cracked It!, dives into the complexities of problem-solving. He discusses the cognitive biases that lead leaders to hastily jump to solutions and introduces the 4S method for disciplined decision-making: State, Structure, Solve, and Sell. Phelps warns against the pitfalls of analogical reasoning and emphasizes collaboration to broaden perspectives. Finally, he highlights the importance of advocating solutions to gain stakeholder support.

Muriel Wilkins, a leadership development coach and host of Coaching Real Leaders, reveals key communication techniques for stressful situations. She emphasizes the importance of listening to improve interactions and suggests mindfulness practices to stay present. Muriel highlights the value of concise language to enhance clarity and advises checking emotional readiness before discussions. She offers strategies for delivering difficult messages authentically and encourages leaders to be transparent only when it benefits the audience.

Bob Sutton, an organizational psychologist and Stanford professor, joins to share insights on scaling success in organizations. He discusses how to transform local wins into company-wide practices using principles like emotional purpose and simplicity. Sutton warns against the dangers of complexity and emphasizes the need to eliminate bad behaviors before spreading good ones. He also highlights the importance of a strong onboarding process to maintain culture during rapid growth. Patience and ownership from leaders are crucial to successfully implement these strategies.

Muriel Wilkins, an executive coach and author of Leadership Unblocked, joins to discuss how 'hidden blockers'—internal beliefs like immediacy and the need to be right—can stifle leadership potential. She highlights signs that signal these blockers, such as low morale and stalled progress. Wilkins suggests reframing urgency into daily priorities and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in recognizing and addressing these beliefs. Additionally, she notes that leaders need to change their mindsets to foster healthier organizational cultures.