HBR On Leadership

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.

Nicholas Pearce, a clinical associate professor at Kellogg School of Management and author of The Purpose Path, stresses the importance of aligning individual and organizational purposes for success. He explains that companies thriving beyond profit motivations attract like-minded employees. Pearce shares insights on how leaders can help rediscover their organization's purpose, the role of education in fulfilling life’s work, and the signs that indicate one might be in the wrong job. He also emphasizes that genuine purpose drives profit, not the other way around.

Explore how design thinking acts as a catalyst for creativity in organizations. Jeanne Liedtka discusses overcoming biases and fears that stifle innovation. She outlines essential elements for successful innovation, emphasizing clear processes for both novice and experienced leaders. Discover practical activities like immersion and gallery walks that turn data into actionable insights. Hear real-world examples demonstrating how prototyping and collaborative design foster commitment and shape positive experiences for users and teams alike.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a Harvard Business School professor and author of Think Outside the Building, argues for a new breed of business leader—one who tackles societal issues like climate change and social inequality. She shares compelling examples of companies like CVS transforming health and the importance of coalition-building. Kanter emphasizes that individual employees can drive change through small innovations and experimentation. With curiosity and a commitment to purpose, advanced leaders are crucial for creating impactful, lasting change in our world.

Oliver Hart, a Nobel Prize-winning economist from Harvard, and Kate Vitasek, a University of Tennessee expert in relational contracting, dive into the nuances of modern business contracts. They discuss why traditional contracts often fail, highlighting the impact of behavioral factors on fairness in agreements. The duo advocates for relational contracts that foster collaboration, emphasizing the need for a shared vision and guiding social norms. Their insights reveal how flexibility can strengthen partnerships, reduce disputes, and even cut costs, as seen in successful collaborations like Dell and FedEx.

Leading a team through constant strategy shifts can be daunting. A leader grapples with motivation amidst unclear directives from upper management. The discussion highlights the significance of prioritizing tasks and establishing a clear focus for the team. Tactics for maintaining discipline and celebrating small wins are emphasized. The importance of clarifying long-term goals and fostering individual motivations emerges as key strategies. The conversation encourages leaders to assert temporary directions while remaining adaptable to changes.

Stefan Thomke, a Harvard Business School professor and author of *Experimentation Works*, shares insights on the power of business experimentation. He highlights how experiments can reveal value often missed through intuition. Thomke discusses barriers to experimentation, the importance of a supportive culture, and practical strategies for integrating tests into decision-making. He also illustrates successful cases like Kohl's and Booking.com, emphasizing the balance between risk management and learning from failures. Overall, he underscores that an experimental mindset can be a game changer for organizations.

Jennifer Riel, an adjunct professor at the Rotman School of Management and co-author of Creating Great Choices, shares insights on integrative thinking in decision-making. She dives into how Lego initially struggled with balancing brand protection and creative talent for their movies. Riel argues for seeking innovative solutions rather than simple compromises, highlighting the importance of audience engagement and the value of exploring opposing models deeply. Her framework encourages leaders to clarify problems, embrace tension in ideas, and prototype solutions effectively.

Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, both professors at Harvard Business School, explore how asking the right questions can transform leadership. They discuss the difference between open-ended and closed questions, and how effective questioning enhances communication and fosters stronger relationships. The conversation dives into mastering difficult inquiries and the necessity of active listening for meaningful dialogues. They emphasize that strategic questioning not only sharpens understanding but also cultivates trust and collaboration among team members.