Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

Aart de Geus, founder and chair of Synopsys, dives into the evolution of leadership. He challenges the outdated notion that strong leaders must be infallible, arguing that vulnerability breeds growth. With a compelling software versioning analogy, he emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and acknowledging one’s gaps to stay relevant in a fast-paced world. Aart believes that fostering an environment of honesty not only enhances personal development but also drives real business success.

Kurt Strovink, Head of Global CEO Services at McKinsey, shares insights on the evolving challenges of leadership today. He highlights the shift toward human-centric leadership, emphasizing authenticity and vulnerability. Strovink offers strategies for balancing purpose with business demands, such as integrating sustainability and innovation. He discusses the importance of peer coaching and reflective spaces for holistic learning. Additionally, he addresses the feelings of leadership loneliness and the significance of energizing activities to foster connection and resilience.

Is your organization struggling to drive innovation? It may be because your employees are hesitant to take risks. Simply telling them to “take more risks” isn’t enough; they need the right environment and support. They may avoid risk-taking because of fear of failure or lack of recognition, leading to stagnation and missed opportunities. In today’s Leadership Spark, I outline three strategies to encourage risk-taking and drive innovation: creating psychological safety, rewarding desired behaviors, and providing resources and support. You’ll learn how to create a culture that promotes innovation through calculated risk-taking by implementing these strategies. ________________ 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 this conversation, Melanie Dulbecco, the CEO of Torani, shares her journey in leading a $500 million company with a people-first approach. She discusses innovative practices like 'Contribution Management' that replace traditional performance reviews. The topic of 'Career Mixology' showcases how employees can explore various roles, fostering growth. Melanie also emphasizes the importance of fair compensation and employee ownership. She provides insights into Gen Z’s work dynamic and how strategic planning helped avoid layoffs during the pandemic.

The episode dives into the pitfalls of participation trophies in the workplace. It argues that equal rewards for varying levels of effort undermine motivation and breed entitlement. Highlighting the importance of performance-based recognition, the discussion emphasizes that true achievements should be rewarded accordingly. By fostering a culture that values hard work, organizations can promote continuous growth and dedication among their teams. Ultimately, the conversation advocates for a meritocratic approach to recognition.

Frederic Laloux, an expert in reinventing organizational management and author of "Reinventing Organizations," dives into the urgent need for modern management shifts. He critiques top-down structures that disengage employees, advocating for self-managing teams that prioritize people. The conversation explores the evolution from rigid hierarchies to dynamic, decentralized approaches. Laloux shares real-world examples, like Bayer's innovative teams and Zappos' holacracy, to illustrate the challenges and successes of adopting new management styles centered on employee fulfillment.

Age doesn't determine leadership ability, yet many struggle with working for younger leaders. This discussion delves into the discomfort that arises when skills are lacking. However, it emphasizes that true leadership hinges on competence, vision, and interpersonal skills, not years of experience. Respect for capabilities over age is vital for a thriving team dynamic. Let's redefine the narrative around leadership effectiveness!

Culture is not a finite element but something we shape daily through our interactions. But how can we create a thriving culture if no one takes ownership of their role in shaping it? In this episode, Michael Weening, CEO of Calix, discusses how leaders can foster a culture of accountability and emphasize our individual responsibility for shaping culture. He also addresses the damaging effects of victimhood in leadership and the workplace, highlighting the importance of taking charge of one's career and how leaders should guide team members in setting realistic goals. Michael shares why the CEO’s job can be tough and how the servant leadership mindset is often lost. We also touch on the necessity and extremity of change, and dig into the trends of “quiet vacationing” and the benefits and challenges of a fully remote setup. ________________ This episode is sponsored by Calix, which helps broadband providers of all sizes simplify their operations, innovate for their subscribers, and grow value for their business and the communities they serve. Learn more at calix.com. ________________ 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/

As we head into 2024, leaders are facing a landscape that’s changing faster than ever, and new challenges are on the rise. In today’s Leadership Spark, we’ll explore the eight leadership trends that every leader needs to watch out for this year along with some practical tips on how to handle the challenges that come with these trends. We’ll discuss embracing vulnerability, enhancing work ethic, prioritizing employee experience, focusing on skills rather than job titles, adapting to hybrid work environments, integrating AI and technology to humanize workplace interactions, addressing political, economic, and geopolitical issues, and thinking like a futurist. This episode will help prepare leaders to adapt to rapid changes in the workplace and global business environment.   ________________ 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/

Joe Fuller, a Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, dives into the future of hiring in the age of AI. He emphasizes the shift towards skill-based hiring over traditional degrees and highlights its necessity for fostering diversity and inclusion. The discussion touches on the transformative role of AI in recruitment, balancing tech with human insight. Fuller also addresses the challenges Gen Z faces in the job market, influenced by helicopter parenting, and the importance of clear communication about skill acquisition in workplaces.