Defining and Adapting Your Leadership Style | HBR IdeaCast | Podcast

Summary

This podcast episode explores the nuances of leadership styles with Suzanne Peterson, an expert in leadership at Thunderbird School of Global Management. She discusses how leaders can successfully combine traits like discipline and intensity with warmth, humility, and approachability. Through examples such as a prominent athlete and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Peterson highlights how these leaders balance power and relatability to foster both respect and connection. The episode offers practical advice for developing a personal leadership style that aligns with both strength and authenticity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Leadership style can be a balance of both power and warmth, with the key being finding the right combination for each individual.
• 😀 Power markers in leadership include traits like being formal, dominant, and intense, while warmth is shown through humility and approachability.
• 😀 Leaders who display both power and warmth tend to be more effective and likable, as they can inspire trust and respect from others.
• 😀 Some leaders are able to cultivate both power and warmth, such as famous athletes who are intense in their work but humble in their interviews.
• 😀 Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, exemplifies this balance, displaying both warmth through informal interactions and competence in leadership decisions.
• 😀 Ardern's leadership is marked by informality, including being called by her first name and walking barefoot at events, while also being assertive and direct.
• 😀 Leaders who effectively blend power and warmth can command authority while remaining relatable to their teams and followers.
• 😀 Confidence, competence, and humility are crucial for maintaining a leadership presence that resonates with a wide audience.
• 😀 People are drawn to leaders who are not only good at their jobs but also show vulnerability, honesty, and emotional awareness.
• 😀 Building a leadership style that combines both authority and warmth requires awareness of one's impact on others and the ability to adjust accordingly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Suzanne Peterson's research discussed in the podcast?

Suzanne Peterson's research focuses on how leaders can develop their leadership styles by balancing power and warmth, and how this combination can impact their effectiveness and likability.

What does Suzanne Peterson mean by 'power markers' in leadership?

Power markers refer to characteristics like discipline, preparedness, and intensity that signal authority and competence in a leader's behavior and appearance.

How does the athlete described in the podcast combine power and warmth?

The athlete demonstrates power through a dominant, intense approach to his profession but balances it with warmth by being humble, emotionally honest, and engaging in interviews, making him likable and approachable.

Why is Jacinda Ardern considered a model for balancing power and warmth?

Jacinda Ardern is considered a model because she combines a warm, informal approach, such as being called by her first name, with strong leadership skills, like being pointed in her communication and demonstrating competence and decisiveness.

What is the significance of Jacinda Ardern bringing her child to the UN while pregnant?

Jacinda Ardern bringing her child to the UN while pregnant symbolized a blend of personal warmth and professional competence, breaking traditional leadership norms and showing her authenticity and approachability.

How does the athlete's emotional honesty contribute to his leadership qualities?

The athlete's emotional honesty, particularly when expressing how losses hurt, makes him relatable and humanizes his leadership, helping others connect with him on a deeper level.

What role does eye contact play in Jacinda Ardern's leadership style?

Jacinda Ardern's use of eye contact reflects her competence and confidence. It is an essential part of her communication style, signaling her seriousness and assertiveness in leadership discussions.

What is the central advice in Suzanne Peterson's article, 'How to Develop Your Leadership Style'?

The central advice in Peterson's article is for leaders to embrace both power and warmth in their leadership approach, and it provides practical guidance on how to develop a leadership style that is both effective and likable.

Why does Suzanne Peterson emphasize the importance of balancing power and warmth in leadership?

Peterson emphasizes the importance of balancing power and warmth because leaders who can combine authority with empathy are more likely to inspire loyalty, gain trust, and connect with their teams, leading to greater overall effectiveness.

How does the athlete's behavior contrast with many of his opponents in terms of public image?

The athlete’s combination of discipline and likability contrasts with many of his opponents, who may not be perceived as as approachable or emotionally honest, making him more popular with the public despite his intense competitiveness.