Compassionate leadership is the practice of using your head and heart to help others become the best version of themselves.

Leadership is not a genetic trait. Everyone can learn to be a good leader and infuse their leadership style with compassion. 

Compassionate leaders understand their job and the person before them. This helps them take the necessary steps to solve the problem, while working out a long-term solution.

The Rise of Compassionate Leadership

Research reveals that people stay in organizations where they are valued and have potential for growth. Furthermore, transformational leadership is heavily reliant on the relationships built at the workplace. One way to inspire loyalty and increase productivity is through compassion.

Compassionate leadership happens when people in power create work conditions where people feel supported and seen, and have fulfilling work lives.

The benefits of showing kindness at the workplace range from stress management to faster promotions. Multiple studies have confirmed that leaders who show kindness are capable of responding effectively to challenges which in turn helps them thrive at work.

The main benefits of compassionate leadership are as follows.

The Oxford English dictionary defines compassion as the feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress of another, and by the desire to relieve it; pity that inclines one to spare or to succor.

Stress Management

A study by Harvard Business Review noted that health workers who showed more compassion were less likely to face burnout. Researchers noted that showing compassion benefitted the giver and receiver.

In their book Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference, physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli provide compelling evidence on how compassion can reduce stress and help prevent burnout.

Showing kindness to others has also been associated with reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including counteracting high blood pressure. Research shows that kindness increases self-esteem and protects you from chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cancer.

Doing nice things for others boosts serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feeling of satisfaction and well-being.

All these after-effects help a leader maintain a cool head during crises and lend the right amount of support to employees.

Promotional benefits

Most people have at some point wondered whether behaving aggressively will help them move up the corporate ladder faster.

The University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business studied the personality traits of people entering the job market. Fourteen years later, after their careers had solidified, the participants were assessed on the power they attained in the context of their work organization. The researchers discovered that those who were selfish, aggressive, and manipulative were less likely to be promoted while those who were extraverted were more likely to gain positions of power.

The link between disagreeableness and its effects on power prove that leaders must lead with empathy to inspire their followers to do great things. One of the biggest leadership mistakes to assume that harsh criticism will motivate employees to perfrom better.

KIND Healthy Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky used the power of kindness to promote his brand and himself. As a CEO, Daniel Lubetzky encouraged everyday acts of kindness and started initiatives to help kids learn empathy. When food giant Mars bought the company in 2020, it was valued at $5 billion.

Higher Income

A University of South Carolina study that surveyed representative samples of the general population in the US and European countries across a wide range of income levels found a link between kindness and higher income. The researchers discovered that those who are kinder and more generous tend to have higher incomes compared to selfish people.

A longitudinal Canadian study observed the personality traits of nearly 3,000 kindergarteners for around 30 years. The authors noted that among men, independent of IQ and family background, who were kinder in kindergarten had higher annual earnings later in life, in comparison to those who were aggressive or disagreeable.

Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks attests to the importance of compassion. Her leadership principles revolve around the “three Ls” – listen, learn, and love. As the first Black woman to lead an NBA team, she has repeatedly vouched for the benefits of learning to love your work and co-workers.

Compassionate leaders are crucial in promoting and delivering compassionate cultures at work. Leadership excellence steams from having compassion, which leads to an environment of inclusivity and collective leadership that benefits the organization as a whole.

The post Why Compassionate Leadership Is In appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi puts it succinctly, “Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization. I’ve never forgotten that.” 

CEOs are expected to look after the short-term and long-term goals for a company. And leadership is as much an art as it is a science.

Have you ever dreamt of becoming a CEO? What would you do if I told you that becoming CEO is as easy as listening to Ted talks?

Here are the top five Ted Talks that will help you in your journey:

From scientists to immigrants, we have curated an eclectic mix of leaders who have set out to change the world the best way they can. 

After Watching This Your Brain Will Not Be The Same – Lara Boyd

Although many dream of reaching the echelons of power, very few think they are capable of achieving it. If becoming a leader has been your dream, watching Dr Lara Boyd’s Ted Talk would be a good start. A neuroscientist and physical therapist at the University of British Columbia, Dr Boyd convinces you that anything is possible if you just put in the effort.

Her Ted Talk on the neuroplasticity of the brain – the ability of the brain to change and adapt based on intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli – reveals how the brain changes to support learning. In her words: “The primary driver of change in your brain is your behavior. There is no neuroplasticity drug you can take.”

This recording makes it to our list of Ted Talks for CEOs, as no matter what our circumstances, every once in a while we need to be reminded that we are capable of achieving anything we set our mind to.

Great leaders Do What Drug Leaders Do – Michael Brody-Waite

A former drug addict, Michael Brody-Waite understands what it means to crave your next fix. He also knows how to fight it, straighten out your life, and run a corporation where authenticity is the key to success. In his Ted Talk given nearly four years ago, the entrepreneur draws parallels between recovering from addiction and leading a team.

The three principles that saved his life — practice rigorous authenticity, surrender the outcome, and do uncomfortable work — can save yours too. In his early job, he was promoted eight times in eight years. Later, he founded and led InQuicker, a healthcare SaaS company, as CEO until 2015, when it was sold to a publicly traded firm. He then served as the CEO of Nashville Entrepreneur Center, which helps connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need to create, launch, and grow a business.

Brody-Waite also dissuades us from putting CEOs on a pedestal and asserts that the three principles will help change our lives and our jobs. According to him, authentic leadership exists at the intersection of authenticity and compassion.

Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe – Simon Sinek

Popular author and self-declared “unshakable optimist” Simon Sinek works with some of the greatest leaders and organizations on the planet. In his Ted Talk, Sinek sheds light on how good leaders create physically and psychologically safe spaces for their teams.

Through the story of an American captain and his empathetic response in a time of crisis, Sinek tells us why good leaders must cultivate trust amongst their teams. With trust comes security and cooperation, and people will eventually let their guard down to push the boundaries of what is possible. This is the formula to success.

Trust starts with investing the time to get to know the people you work with and leading them to greater things. He stresses on the fact that leadership is a choice people must make every day.

Great leaders provide a safe environment for their teams and help them grow. Filled with real-life stories of extraordinary leaders who rose to the occasion in times of adversity, Sinek solidifies what any individual must do to be an outstanding leader. And if you are in the running for CEO, this talk is a summary of everything you must aim for.

Great Leadership is a Network, Not a Hierarchy – Gitte Frederiksen

Management books tell us that the CEO is the highest ranking employee in an organization. A CEO is expected to put out fires and motivate employees to achieve organizational goals. Most of us believe that the power to accomplish this comes from the designation that the individual carries.

Frederiksen tells us that in the modern world, complex problems are coming at us faster than most data system can predict. In such situations, having a few people with titles will not give us quicker solutions. To combat this, we must expand our circles and gather minds with different capabilities and interests. As digitization and AI become part of everyday work, leadership is an expendable concept.

Today, leadership is more about communication than a designation. The young management consultant argues that building influence brings in more dynamic to any role you embody. While becoming a CEO awards you a label, true leadership is about sharing ideas and thoughts and not sticking to the title in the hierarchical sense.

The Anti-CEO Playbook – Hamdi Ulukaya

In a world that runs on profit forecasts and Wall Street estimates, Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya shares his vision on the anti-CEO playbook and why it works. Our list of Ted Talks for CEOs would be incomplete without this gem, where Ulukaya disses everything corporate America tells a CEO to do. He clarifies what it means to be a bad boss.

From stumbling upon a closed factory to developing communities and a workforce that is 30% immigrants and refugees, Ulukaya highlights what it means to be a true leader. He shares his way of doing business and why a company should be built on the principle that a CEO reports to the consumer.

The Turkish billionaire talks about giving company shares to 2,000 employees and making them responsible for the business. As he shares the framework of his anti-CEO playbook, Ulukaya gives you the confidence to become a leader who is a master disruptor and innovator. He says, “An anti-CEO playbook is about gratitude” as he details the steps he took to make Chobani the best selling yogurt in the US.

 To sum up, just becoming a CEO does not mean  you have landed. You must commit to continual learning and make courageous choices everyday.

The post The Dynamics of Power and Relationships: Ted Talks for CEOs appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

In his book Start With Why: How Great leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, Sinek discusses the purpose of work. 

He reveals that leaders who have the biggest influence all think, work, and act the same way — it is the opposite of what everyone else does and they are aware of the “why” behind their actions.

Let us delve into how the author inspired people to ask a crucial question of their organization and its implication on leadership.

Leaders Start with the Why

According to Sinek, every single person knows what they do. They will tell you about the products they sell and the services they offer. But very few people and organizations articulate why they do what they do.

Profits and branding are results we derive from offering these services.

One great example of an organization that practices the why is Apple. Instead of talking about how they make great computers or smartphones, the tech company draws customers’ attention to why they do it. Through its why, the company shows that every action they take defies what is expected and challenges the status quo.

The iPhone-maker is much more innovative than all its peers combined.

During the course of his research, Sinek identified a pattern and refers to it as – The Golden Circle. The theory notes that impressionable brands think beyond today and find a way to align with their customer’s emotions and values.

Why, How, and What

The three components of being a successful leader is in knowing one’s why, how and what.

Figuring out the Why

All organizations know what they do. Few of them even know the how. But very rarely do they know the why.

The why is the mission or cause of the organization. It is the reason that hooks people and customers, and inspires organizations to aim for greatness. In Sinek’s words, leaders must be clear on the why. If you don’t care about why you do something, why should others?

The author reiterates that figuring out the why is the first step to success.

How Will You Do It

The next step, after the why, is to come up with a plan to achieve your goals. While the why provides you with a purpose, the how gives you a roadmap on how to achieve your dreams.

Individuals and organizations must come up with the how — how they will go about their journey that will set them apart from the competition.

What Do You Offer

Often, when asked what a company does, people respond with the products and services they offer in place of the why.

The what is the evidence of your focus on the why. Organizations must codify their why to get to their what. What a business or an individual produces continues to evolve as per customer needs and market demands. But the why stays consistent.

The why is the lighthouse that lights the way even amidst choppy waters.

Apple embodies all these principles and had a great leader in Steve Jobs who set the tone from the start.

Why – We build great products that are user-friendly and that challenge the status quo. Their “Think Different” campaign cemented their status as a disruptor and change-maker.

How – They bring in the best minds in the business and push the boundaries of what is possible.

What – Apple produces great computers and devices that look after a customer’s well-being.

Leaders who are able to inspire others and encourage innovation start with changing their communication. No matter what their area of interest, great leaders talk about the why before moving on to the other two factors.

Having a why compels people into taking action and earns the loyalty of business partners and customers. Once the why is in place, everything else follows.

The post Simon Sinek’s Tips on How Great Leaders Talk about What They Do appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

To successfully follow through on new year resolutions, the goals you set for yourself must be doable and measurable. “If you do it out of the sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long,” said Dr Michael Bennett a psychiatrist and co-author of two self-help books.

Resolving to Find Work-Life Harmony

One common theme among Fortune 100 CEOs is the desire to improve work-life balance. With the demands of running a company, it can be easy to get caught up in work and neglect other areas of life. Many CEOs are resolving to make time for hobbies, exercise, and quality time with loved ones, recognizing the importance of maintaining a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle.

CEO Of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffet recommends learning to say NO to distractions and anything that does not align with your goals. “You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life.”

Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is another key focus for Fortune 100 CEOs in the new year. Many are committing to creating more inclusive environments for employees of all backgrounds, and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives to foster a sense of belonging and respect among team members.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has always been a diversity and inclusion champion. Under his leadership, Walmart even commissioned McKinsey & Co. to research challenges Black Americans face in the private sector. McMillon once said, “Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn’t is at a clear disadvantage.”

The Harvard Business Review also found that diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets.

Embracing Change and Innovation

As the business world continues to evolve and change, Fortune 100 CEOs are also resolving to embrace innovation and stay ahead of the curve. This means keeping an open mind to new ideas, taking calculated risks, and staying up-to-date on industry trends.

A Lab42 survey showed that for 84% of consumers it is somewhat or very important that the company they buy a product from is innovative.

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk … In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks,” says Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Market research firm Nielsen found that customers have a strong appetite for innovation and are increasingly demanding better choices.

Leading with Empathy and Compassion

In addition to achieving professional success, many Fortune 100 CEOs are also resolving to lead with empathy and compassion. This means taking the time to listen to and understand the needs and concerns of employees, as well as taking a holistic approach to problem-solving.

According to research conducted by Businessolver, 84% of CEOs believe empathy drives better business outcomes.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admits, “Empathy makes you a better innovator.” Empathetic leadership also helped make a workplace more inclusive.

 From improving work-life balance to embracing innovation and leading with empathy, the New Year’s Resolutions of Fortune 100 CEOs reflect a commitment to personal and professional growth. These top leaders in the business world are setting the stage for a successful and meaningful year ahead.

The post Resolving to Succeed: New Year’s Resolutions of Fortune 100 CEOs appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

Some of the most famous business leaders in the world are known for helping others realize their full potential by honing their inherent talents and empowering them to take the lead. Leadership calls for you to unite your team to achieve compelling goals. 

 The top 10 business leaders to keep an eye out for in 2023 are:

 1.  Tim Cook

Taking over the reins of Apple from Steve Jobs called for mammoth shoulders, as Jobs pretty much defined the brand in the early 2000s. Many wondered what the Duke University alumni could offer that Jobs didn’t. The skeptics were in for a surprise — according to CNBC, Apple’s stock has increased by more than 480% since Cook became CEO in 2011. Tim Cook’s leadership is democratic, but he is also known to possess high expectations.  

In a commencement speech at Auburn, Cook revealed that he relied on intuition during significant decision-making processes. One of the most approachable business leaders, he always lends an ear to what people have to say before calling the shots. 

Cook is also known for prioritizing privacy and sustainability in Apple productions. As the Apple ecosystem expands, from smartwatches to reality pro headsets, Cook makes it to our list of famous business leaders to look out for in 2023 as he has his finger on what the world needs. With his focus on innovation and operational efficiencies, he has managed to craft a trillion-dollar brand that makes customers and investors equally happy. 

 2.  Elon Musk

All of this year Elon Musk has been in the news for his Twitter takeover and the ensuing controversies. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is one of the most followed business leaders in the world, as his sometimes eccentric moves have borne fruit in the long run. In a December 2021 episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, the billionaire said that one should not try to be a leader for the sake of being one. As someone who has launched everything from flamethrowers to perfume that smells like burnt hair, he knows a thing or two about leading companies.

With a Cybertruck and close to 100 SpaceX missions in the pipeline for 2023, Musk is known for making the impossible seem easy. A voracious reader, Musk has repeatedly said that he values hard work above all else and demands the same of his employees. As someone who managed to turn around the fortunes of Tesla and SpaceX, the world is curious to see how Musk will transform Twitter in the coming year. 

3.  Warren Buffet

The Oracle of Omaha is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. One of the most successful business leaders, with a net worth exceeding $100 billion as of November 2022, global leaders keenly watch his every move to predict economic changes. In the past, Buffet has revealed that he always hires the best people and lets them do their thing. He also advises that CEOS must pick people better than themselves to achieve success. 

Buffet also cautions against getting involved in enterprises that one can’t understand. For him, it was cryptocurrencies. The businessman has saved many companies from the brink of bankruptcy and breathed new life into them with his smart investments. Buffet has previously said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that the really successful people say no to almost everything.” In other words, successfully reserve their “yes” for what they deem worth their time. As the world moves towards a recession, financial experts will closely study how the self-made investor will navigate the ups and downs of the economy.

4.  Bog Iger

It has been a year of homecoming for many CEOs. Bob Iger returned to Disney this month after retiring in 2020. He was with the company for 15 years. The man who led Disney’s global expansion plan is well-liked and well-known in entertainment circles. He has been instrumental in reinvigorating Disney’s media and parks business and plans to help the company sail through some tough times. Iger is known for being open, decisive, and authentic. 

As a CEO, Iger has set his sights on revamping the company and started by instituting hiring freezes and cost cuts. He aims to make the streaming business profitable and make the company relevant for the upcoming generation.

One of the most pragmatic and visionary business leaders in modern times, in his book, he wrote, “Don’t be in the business of playing it safe. Be in the business of creating possibilities for greatness.” It will be interesting to see how Iger’s second innings at Disney will shape the global media company.

5.  Mark Zuckerberg

The Facebook CEO has found himself in hot water with investors over his investments in the metaverse market. Widely touted as the next big thing in tech, many brands and establishments have started making their presence felt in the virtual world. The American business magnate has steered Facebook to profitability and acquired Instagram and Whatsapp. 

As one of the world’s foremost tech magnates, Meta is leading the metaverse transformation but has failed to take off as planned. A recent launch of Zuckerberg’s metaverse avatar invited ridicule from social media users. As TikTok eats into business, Meta has been struggling to lure users back to Instagram and Facebook, its biggest moneymakers. Meta’s plans to redefine virtual reality are still in process and the world wants to see how the man, who reconfigured the way the world socialized, will put his stamp on this venture. In the past, Zuckerberg has said that the biggest risk is not taking any risks.

6.  Karen Lynch

If someone can diversify and steer a business into profitability even during the pandemic, you know she is a business leader worth looking up to. CVS CEO Karen Lynch grew digital customers at the company from 15 million to 45 million. A driven businesswoman, she understands that technology is the game changer in healthcare. She has plans to home-deliver care and is piloting technology to allow people to better coordinate with pharmacies for prescription pickups. One of the most popular female leaders of our time, Lynch is a force to be reckoned with. 

The recent acquisition of private care Signify Health Inc. by CVS expands the insurer’s potential by leaps and bounds. Lynch is unfazed by complexities and mistakes, as she believes they are a part of life. She mentions that it is important to course correct and thinks that healthcare is about engagement with individuals. With rock-solid confidence and ambitious plans to make primary care affordable to all Americans, Karen Lynch is a visionary business leader to watch for in 2023.

7.  Jane Fraser

The high priestess of banking, Jane Fraser, is the CEO of Citi. Despite facing a volatile economic climate, Citi returned $4 billion to shareholders and continues to hold strong amidst inflation-based headwinds.

Since taking charge, Fraser has focused her efforts on transforming Citi into the bank of the future, emphasizing digital upgrades and process improvements. 

Fraser believes that empathy can create a competitive edge. “Empathy is about listening to our clients rather than pushing a product or our idea.” She is also a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Fraser is an active member of boards that shape economic policies and an astute businesswoman who has worked to forward Citi’s ESG agenda. Business leaders are closely watching Fraser as Citi blossoms under her capable leadership.

8.  Rosalind Brewer

The CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rosalind Brewer, is one of only two Black women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Brewster is keen on improving equity and inclusion in organizations and making people feel included in the workplace. She educates people around her by being frank and open and believes that creating agile teams calls for a diversity of thought. At Walgreens, she is keen on putting together the right tools for customers and employees.

On leadership, she says, “The next level of leadership is about becoming great listeners, acting on the information, and making your people feel included.” Brewer manages over 400,000 employees worldwide and wants to create a cohesive workspace where people can collaborate and combine their smarts to solve problems. As a leader, Brewer advises people to acknowledge mistakes as soon as they realize them and to cultivate strong networks in the workplace.

9.  Julie Sweet

Julie Sweet presides over Accenture, a multinational professional service provider, and is passionate about onboarding the best talent, as it plays the biggest role in the growth trajectory of a company. Before becoming CEO, she served as Accenture’s legal counsel and brought with her a wealth of experience. She asserts that technology, data, and artificial intelligence will transform the way we work in the coming years. 

She is a huge promoter of Accenture’s culture of “shared success” and believes that to be truly successful people must work together to find solutions. Focusing on sustainability and upskilling people is one way to achieve this. Sweet prioritizes progress over perfection and is a lifelong learner.

As a working professional, she recommends exercising your right to say NO to trivial things. She says, “The ability to say No is very important.”

The world has watched in awe as she set about transforming Accenture’s business profile and utilized the company’s own metaverse to give new hires a complete experience. In an interview with Forbes, she revealed that the company mantra is, “Let there be change.” 

10.  Mary Barra

Transparency and problem-solving have defined Mary Barra’s leadership over the years. The CEO of General Motors since 2014, she is the highest-paid chief executive of the Detroit Three automakers. As a leader, Barra is known for her collaborative spirit, eager to give credit to her team rather than steal the limelight herself. She was given the top job at GM for her ability to bring order to chaos, by streamlining processes and improving efficiency.

Barra believes that an intelligent leader recognizes that the success of every company is about its people. She has been working on building GM as a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. In an interview, Barra admitted that “autonomous (AV) and electric vehicle (EV) technologies are critical for the competitive future.” Under her, GM has committed to investing nearly $35 billion in EV and AV product spending, far exceeding the company’s gas and diesel investment. A trailblazer, unafraid to learn, business people have kept an eye on her successes as she steers GM towards sustainability.

The top business leaders are the ones who are skilled at communicating their vision and working on continuously improving their products.

The post The Top 10 Business Leaders to Watch Out for in 2023 appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

The number one rule of good parenting, according to Esther Wojcicki is – Don’t do anything for your kids that they can do for themselves. Her daughter, Susan, is the CEO of YouTube while Anne is the co-founder of 23andMe. A third daughter, Janet, is a highly-accomplished epidemiologist and Fullbright scholar.

So, what did Esther Wojciciki do right that led her to develop CEO qualities in her daughters?

The journalist and educator believes that self-reliance is key to leadership, and recommends cultivating the below-listed values as they are the precursors to developing the qualities of a good CEO.

Her TRICK to raising successful kids with CEO qualities stands for Trust, Respect, Independence, Collaboration, and Kindness.

Encourage Guided Independence

Esther Wojcicki feels very strongly about parents who coddle their kids. She states that kids must be given the freedom to try things on their own, but at the same time parents must be available to offer unconditional support and guidance.

In her words, the more you trust them, the more empowered they will be. It is also key to helping them feel secure and developing a positive parent-child relationship.

She states that children must feel confident enough to approach you for help. Instead of telling them how you want it done, they should be allowed to share their input and ideas.

Children grow up according to your expectations. But helicopter parenting has never helped anyone nor will it result in future CEOs. In an interview with CNBC she shared that she prefers letting kids figure things out by themselves and when they are stuck, nudges them along in the right direction.

In her book, How To Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons to Help Your Child Become Self-Driven, Respectful, and Resilient, Esther Wojciciki revealed that she would let her grandchildren shop for themselves at Target at around age eight. Her reason behind doing so was that as kids who wanted to buy some school supplies, they knew what they needed. With her own kids, when they were school-going, she would give them the freedom to set their own alarm, pick their outfit, help out with lunch and dinner prep, and plan activities for the weekend.

In the interview she communicated that this can also be applied to the corporate world as employers look for ways to get workers to be more productive and passionate. And to companies like Gap, which approached her, her advice was “people work really well when they feel trusted and respected. That is what everybody wants.” To do this, companies must treat employees better and trust them to do the work assigned.

As a teenager, when her daughter Susan went for a seminar, she was the only one among children who admitted that she does not hide things from her parents. Rather she is allowed to voice her opinions and respected for them.

In the book she writes, “No one has ever changed the world by doing what the world has told them to do.” She reiterates that children know who they are, and if parents want to raise CEOs for the future, kids must be allowed to take the lead. American actor James Franco, who was Wojcicki’s student, admitted that he believed in himself because she believed in him.

Growth Mindset Vs Fixed Mindset

With Esther Wojcicki, the door to improvement is always open. The educator stresses on the importance of rewarding effort over result — a key indicator of CEO qualities.

For her, mastery means doing something repeatedly until you get it right. As a teacher in the 1980s and 1990s, she offered kids who got a ‘D’ multiple opportunities to improve. Usually, kids who got the failing grade felt discouraged and lost the motivation to continue. However, Esther Wojcicki’s students were given as many opportunities as they needed. Their grades were based on the final product, as she wanted to instill in them the value of effort.

When her students sat for tests, they performed in the 90th percentile of state exams, proving her theory right. Although Wojcicki’s principles were in practice long before research proved her right, in recent times, Stanford professor Carol S Dweck proved the power of the mindset through her studies. Called the growth mindset and the fixed mindset, Dweck teaches about the effect of rewarding effort over results.

Dweck’s research shows that those who have a growth mindset – where people believe intelligence and talent can be cultivated through effort – go on to become successful while those with a fixed mindset – where people believe intelligence and talent is fixed – find it tough to adjust to changes. In her research, she found students with a growth mindset were three times more likely to score in the top 20% on the test, while students with a fixed mindset were four times more likely to score in the bottom 20%.

Those who adopt a growth mindset embrace lifelong learning and put in more effort to master something. She says, “No matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.” To raise CEOs for future, it is important to develop a growth mindset so that they know how to rally those around them.

People with a fixed mindset rarely develop confidence in being independent and when they fail at tasks, believe it is because they are not smart enough to do it. This ignites a cycle of negative thinking that leads them to avoid challenges to avoid failure.

If you wish to groom your kids or employees to become future CEOs, it is imperative that failure is not seen as a dead-end. People must be given multiple chances to make things right and taught that effort is more important than getting it right at the first try. Rewarding consistent effort will reinforce the value of hardwork and help educators in different roles groom CEOs for the future. Leadership excellence is a byproduct of being unafraid to fail.

Cultivating Kindness

The brilliant author attributes her success as a teacher to treating kids with kindness. Instead of forcing her opinion on them, she lets them know that she trusts them.

The mother of two CEOs, she says, “Kindness is at the heart of what parenting really is: bringing children into the world and hoping they’ll make it a better place.” While teaching journalism, she admits that she trusted her students. “I respected their ideas, no matter how crazy they were—and I can tell you, teenagers have a lot of crazy ideas.”

She counsels parents who want to raise future CEOs to treat their children with kindness. At the workplace, employers must make it a point to be kind. According to Wojcicki, kindness can be the antidote to fear. People tend to hold back from exploring new things because they are afraid. Business leaders must be empathetic towards their colleagues.

“The number one thing that a kid needs, to be able to learn effectively, it’s kindness,” Wojcicki said. “And so, what you want is to provide an atmosphere where, if you make a mistake, you’re treated with kindness. It’s not like the mistake doesn’t go unnoticed, it’s just that you’re not traumatized.” The same principle can be put into practice at a workplace.

The rule of kindness applies to students, educators, and oneself. We must also find it in our hearts to be kind to ourselves, when we make mistakes. Children pick up on our behaviors and teaching them also involves setting a good example.

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant and writer Allison Sweet Grant have found that kindness and success go hand in hand. In an Atlantic Monthly article, they shared an overwhelming amount of evidence that pointed to the fact that children who help others end up achieving more.

•      Middle-school students who were helpful and collaborated with their peers got better grades on standardized test scores.
•     Middle-school students who believe their parents value being helpful, respectful, and kind over excelling academically, attending a good college, and having a successful career perform better in school.

The Grants suggest developing kindness in children by asking them more questions on how they helped others and fewer ones on what they scored or how they did on a test.

In the 2022 Humankindex research, Signature Consultants continued to examine the impact of kind leadership and cultural values amid a complex landscape. The survey which included over 1,000 full-time workers found that 83% of employees agreed with the fact that “kind leadership is more important to me than ever when choosing an employer/job.” 

More importantly, an organization is five times more likely to be considered innovative if it is kind. Organizations who put kindness ahead of profits have employees who are 120% more likely to feel a sense of meaning and purpose in their current job, and 89% more likely to have a strong desire to think of new and innovative ideas.

Often, leadership is not about titles or positions, but about relationships. To cultivate the qualities of a good CEO, it is imperative that the person is a good human being and a contributor to society. Esther Wojciciki’s TRICK focuses on how to develop these virtues in kids and employees so that they are confident enough to lead the way when the time comes. Eventually, they will become success stories in their own right. 

The post Esther Wojcicki’s Guide to Raising Future CEOs appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

There are numerous styles of leadership that experts have categorized. They all have their benefits and drawbacks. However, there are eight common leadership styles—Transactional Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Servant Leadership, Democratic Leadership, Autocratic Leadership, Bureaucratic Leadership, Laissez-Faire Leadership, Charismatic Leadership.

Before we go further, let us answer the fundamental question— who is a leader?

A leader is somebody who can inspire people to believe in his vision and motivate them to work towards achieving it. A leader is not someone who sits at the pinnacle of any organization, it is someone who can lead, make decisions, and take responsibility for the outcomes.

In this article, we will talk about servant leadership qualities. This style of functioning is quite popular nowadays as it emphasizes on the human touch. Their motto is to serve first and lead second. They channel their energies into finding ways and means to help others. They are natural leaders but are not overly focused on making that point. 

The idea of servant leadership was floated by Robert Greenleaf in his essay The Servant as Leader, in 1970. A servant leader always asks, what can I do to help you out with your problem? They do not think twice about going out of their way to find a solution.

They focus on elevating and developing the people who follow them. This approach boosts morale and leads to a high level of trust, resulting in better employee performance and a more positive company culture.

Greenleaf and his fellow believers identified five traits of servant leaders.

Moral Love

It means having a deep caring for your fellow employees. A servant leader puts the employee before profit, believing happy workers lead to better work and finally more productivity and profits. 

Humility

Humility should not be confused with a willingness to be trodden over. It means keeping one’s ego in check and letting other people’s opinions matter. They are willing to take diverse inputs and use data and facts to make decisions. They share the success of an organization and take responsibility when things do not go according to plan. 

Altruism

Servant leaders prioritize their people as well as the needs of the community that they are operating in. They’re also willing to share the rewards by sharing a generous portion of the company’s profits as a bonus with the employees. 

Vision

A leader needs to have a clear vision of the future. A good servant leader is also able to get everyone inside the organization aligned with that same direction. 

Trust

Servant leaders inspire trust as they put their needs below that of their colleagues and workers. They have a strong moral and ethical compass. Such people inspire trust within and outside the organization.

To be a good servant leader can be challenging. Constantly pushing your own needs and priorities to the backburner isn’t something that comes as second nature for most of us.

But for some, being a humble, down-to-earth leader is second nature, and they are very comfortable in their skin.

The post Qualities of a successful ‘Servant Leader’ appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

Leadership is driven by varied attributes, with each leader responding uniquely to different heights of success influenced by distinguishing instincts and philosophy. “Leadership doesn’t have a secret formula; all true leaders go about things in their own way,” says Sir Richard Branson. He is a remarkable leader with soaring desire to kindle the moral fibre of leadership in many lives, chairman of over 400 companies, a philanthropist, investor, and a business magnate. It is believed that Branson has broken many rules of leadership, and yet his success has created a standard with incessant references.

As the founder of Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson demonstrated a leadership style influenced by how his team members should be treated. And his book, “The Virgin Way: Everything I Know about Leadership,” has been instrumental in lots of inspiration in entrepreneurship. We can quickly look at the major attributes that make him a great leader.

Passion for impact

Branson is one of the leaders that believe in their ideas more than anyone else. He doesn’t back down from his passion just because people are criticizing it, rather he values people who would take a risk on things that are extraordinary. That doesn’t mean that Branson would undertake projects that would ruin him if it fails.

“Protecting the downside” is the term Branson used to describe his idea of limiting risk while pursuing his passion. This is how he was able to convince his partners in the Virgin airline which started in 1984. He demonstrated passion in his first business where his primary target was to sell enough advertisements that could cover the cost of printing the magazines.

Positive corporate culture

Personality and experience are the qualities most valued by Sir Richard. He’s not the type to be enticed with qualifications without personality. “A person who has multiple degrees in your field isn’t always better than someone with broad experience and a wonderful personality,” says Branson on Forbes. He is a leader ready to take chances on people, promoting them when possible just to send a message to everyone in the company. Soft skills and strong leadership skills are the fundamentals of being a senior officer in his company and the philosophy is to promote a character required to direct and unite staff for effective collaboration.

Branson also believes there should be rooms for fun in a corporate environment. He believes that company staff should have fun at the office to help keep their mind healthy. Branson said “Some 80% of your life is spent working. You want to have fun at home; why shouldn’t you have fun at work?”

Dumps mistakes quickly and makes decisions

Sir Richard Branson believes that opportunities are always there that you can’t dwell on your mistakes for long. He is a leader who believes that new plans should be developed quickly when things don’t work out as planned. Hence, it’s imperative to move on quickly to the next challenge each time there’s a mistake.

Using sports to demonstrate the effects of staying back at mistakes, Branson said, “Tennis, like a business, moves so quickly that if you dwell on the past for even a few minutes, an opportunity will have passed and the moment will be lost. You have to get into the right frame of mind in order to perform your best, and need to be able to put setbacks behind you instantly.”

At the moments when decisions are important, Sir Richard does not believe in just making the decisions, he also believes in demonstrating it by making the right moves. He said, “Nobody respects a leader who doesn’t know how to get his hands dirty and innovate personally”. And added that “There will be times when strong and decisive leadership is necessary, to make sure the right moves are made.”

Willingness to listen and learn

Every business leader should have the willingness to listen and learn says the Virgin group founder. It’s not possible to have a monopoly on good ideas no matter how impressive your CV is or how experienced you are in a business. Branson proclaimed that leadership and learning are of the same source and that “as a leader, you should always be listening. Be visible, note down what you hear and you’ll be surprised how much you learn.” He said, “Successes happen from working and learning with some of the world’s most inspiring and inspired people.”

Rule of Teamwork and Talent

Teamwork and skills are the major pioneers of success in every company and Sir Richard Branson is keying into that effectively. He believes in hiring varied skills, experiences and personalities to form a great workforce. Branson says “What leadership boils down to, is people,” “Whatever your style, whatever your method, you need to believe in yourself, your ideas and your staff. Nobody can be successful alone and you cannot be a great leader without great people to lead.”

The post What makes Richard Branson a Great Leader? appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.

“The Art of War” by Sun Tzu

Military leader Sun Tzu recorded his principles on how to be a fearless leader over 2,000 years ago. This book is a modern translation of the same. The book is an ageless guide on effective leadership. Top executives from around the globe refer to it. An interesting fact is that each of the principles mentioned in this book is still applicable in the present times despite the various stages of evolution which took place.

This book is an ancient Chinese military treatise published in the 5^th century BC. Despite this, it provides lessons of leadership which would help the leaders of today in working confidently and fearlessly. It acts like a guide to the leader about how to behave in a particular manner with one’s team in order to attain success.

One can get the updated hardcover version of this ancient book on the online shopping site Amazon at the price of $10.88.

“The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology that Fuel Success and Performance at Work” by Shawn Achor

The book written by Shawn Achor has some fascinating research conducted on the human brain regarding positive psychology. It very interestingly explains that how does one’s brain work efficiently when it’s happy. This book mainly focuses on achieving progress in life with a positive outlook towards everything.

It is a common thought that one is happy on achieving progress. But in this book Achor tries to focus on the fact that in order to achieve progress, one should be happy. If one is positive from within, he can improve his productivity. This will also inspire the people around him to work well.

A hardcover copy of this book of positive psychology is available on the online shopping site Amazon at the price of $17.

“Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season” by Urban Meyer and Wayne Coffey

The mentioned book is by former football coach Urban Meyer and sports journalist Wayne Coffey. Notably, it is about their experiences in the field and how did they deal with it. One does not need to be a football enthusiast in order to enjoy this book. Through real-life experiences, a manager can inculcate tips for better leadership in his professional life. Meyer was a psychologist before becoming a coach. Hence he has used his knowledge while writing this book as well. For someone who wants to learn more about leadership in an interesting manner, this is an ideal choice.

Order a hardcover copy of this book on leadership from the online shopping site Amazon at the price of $17.46.

The post 3 Recommended Books to Boost One’s Leadership Skills appeared first on Industry Leaders Magazine.