Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

Michael Watkins, an authority on leadership and author of 'The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking,' shares how to mobilize teams for impactful decisions. Seth Godin, a renowned entrepreneur, emphasizes the need for adaptability over rigid planning. Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford professor, reveals data on how remote and hybrid work affects productivity and talent retention. Together, they explore strategic thinking, the nuances of modern leadership, and how embracing uncertainty is key for success in 2025.

What does it mean to lead with vulnerability? Discover the essential balance between openness and competence that fosters trust and connection. Learn why vulnerability paired with action is crucial in today's fast-paced world. Hear anecdotes from CEOs as they navigate the challenges of showing emotions while maintaining strength. Embrace the formula: Vulnerability + Leadership = Real Impact, and explore how this powerful equation can inspire confidence and accountability in the workplace.

The pace of change is relentless, and leaders everywhere are grappling with the same challenge: how do we prepare our teams for a future we can’t predict? In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Frederik Pferdt, offers a solution—shifting your mindset to embrace curiosity, radical optimism, and human-centered leadership. Drawing from his groundbreaking work at Google and insights from his book "What’s Next is Now", Frederik reveals the secrets to transforming uncertainty into possibility. We dive into why innovation dies on idea boards, how replacing “but” with “and” can change everything, and the six dimensions of a future-ready mindset. Frederik also gets personal, sharing stories about handling California wildfires, transforming challenges into opportunities, and how experimenting like a gardener can help your ideas grow.   ________________ Start your day with the world’s top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/

In a rapidly changing world, leaders must adapt or be left behind. The podcast delves into the impact of loneliness and burnout on employee engagement, revealing shifting expectations transformed by the pandemic. It also highlights the tension between employees wanting flexibility and employers’ struggles to provide supportive environments. Amidst these challenges, it emphasizes the necessity of vulnerability in leadership and the critical balance of empowerment and accountability in fostering a positive workplace culture.

Lisa Bodell, founder of Future Think and bestselling author, shares her insights on foresight and strategic planning. She emphasizes the necessity of agility and human-centered skills for leaders in a world of constant change. Lisa discusses practical tools like STEEP and the Futures Wheel to navigate uncertainty and foster innovation. She warns of the dangers of 'perma crisis' stifling creativity and highlights the importance of killing outdated company practices to uncover blind spots. Listeners will learn how to prepare for the future while staying anchored in the present.

Why do companies struggle to keep top talent? It’s not just about free food or perks. Many organizations find themselves on a ‘hedonic treadmill,’ cycling through benefits but missing the deeper needs for purpose and growth. The initial excitement of new hires often fades due to politics and bureaucracy, leading to disengagement. Leaders are challenged to focus on fostering a meaningful workplace that prioritizes personal growth and impact over superficial benefits.

Join Guy Kawasaki, Author and Chief Evangelist at Canva, Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management, and John R. Miles, Founder & CEO of PASSION STRUCK, as they explore leadership strategies for 2025. Kawasaki emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset in turning challenges into opportunities. Edmondson highlights the significance of psychological safety and embracing intelligent failures to foster innovation. Miles offers a transformative framework for unlocking intrinsic motivation and leading with intention, setting the stage for breakthrough leadership.

Leaders today are urged to embrace vulnerability instead of power plays. Global research shows that leading with humanity fosters trust and inspires innovation. The shift from traditional to modern leadership styles highlights the need for personal connection and emotional awareness. A fascinating metaphor compares leaders to butterflies, stressing the importance of adaptability in a changing environment. Vulnerable leadership not only boosts personal growth but also transforms organizational culture, resulting in higher engagement and creativity among teams.

Dr. David Miller, Executive Director of the Princeton Faith & Work Initiative, discusses the transformative power of ethics in leadership. He emphasizes how integrity and faith serve as foundations for values-based decision-making. Miller introduces the 'Five Essential Questions' that guide leaders in ethical dilemmas. Furthermore, he shares his TAM model, a framework for fostering ethical transformations in organizations. The conversation also tackles declining religious affiliation and its implications for personal and community values.

Explore how AI is reshaping the workplace and what leaders can do to adapt. Key discussions include the vital skills needed for success in an AI-driven world, emphasizing technological fluency and vital human skills. The podcast also highlights the importance of mentorship in developing talent. Shared accountability between organizations and employees is essential as everyone navigates technological changes together. Discover practical insights for fostering a culture of self-driven learning and keeping your team engaged in the future of work.