In today’s leadership spark, Loran Nordgren, Professor at Kellogg School of Management, talks about the concept of frictions in innovation and change, and the meaning of inertia, effort, and reactance. Loran mentions the four specific frictions that stand in the way of embracing new ideas.

We also dived deep into the importance of addressing these frictions and involving the audience in the change process is emphasized, as their reactions and feelings greatly impact the success of innovation and transformation.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

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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 today’s leadership spark, I speak with Loran Nordgren, Professor at Kellogg School of Management. We dive deep into the concept of friction theory and the importance of focusing on barriers rather than just appeal in driving change and selling ideas. He emphasizes that while many people believe that elevating appeal and adding more value is the key to success, it is often the barriers or frictions that hold ideas back.

Drawing an analogy to a bullet's flight, Loran explains that simply adding more gunpowder (fuel) does not help if the bullet lacks aerodynamics to reduce resistance.  Similarly, in organizations, the key is to identify and address the frictions that hold ideas back. By making ideas more aerodynamic and removing barriers, real progress and growth can be achieved.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

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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/

Today we'll be diving into the world of author and entrepreneur Seth Godin. Seth has recently released a new book titled "The Song of Significance," which explores the concept of significance in the world and questions whether we are in a new era of leadership. In our conversation, we'll discuss the negative effects of automation, the balance of power shift within organizations, and the importance of leading with vulnerability. We'll also touch on the distinction between management and leadership, and the companies that Seth admires.

Throughout our discussion, we'll be focusing on the idea of significance and how to create it in your life and work. Seth will share his insights on where to start and how to crack the egg to make a real impact.

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This episode is sponsored by: AvePoint

Rapidly reduce costs, improve productivity and make more informed business decisions with AvePoint. With the most advanced platform to optimize SaaS operations and secure collaboration, AvePoint helps you transform your digital workplace and collaborate with confidence. To get started, go to www.avepoint.com and learn how you can advance your digital workplace today.

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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 today’s leadership spark, Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact, and I dive deeper into the importance of addressing issues such as diversity and inclusion in leadership roles, the potential impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, and personal experiences that have influenced Tiger’s approach to leadership. Tiger also highlights the need for continuous learning, humility, and embracing curiosity.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

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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 today’s leadership spark, Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact, and I discussed the post-COVID work landscape and the nuanced shift in the way work is conducted. We also explore the potential benefits of distributed workforces, reduced commute times, and the ability to tap into new talent from diverse locations. 

Our discussion also touched on the accelerated digital transformation during the pandemic and the reasons why organizations often resist change. At the leadership level, increased virtual communication and empathy play key roles in motivating and engaging remote teams, as well as checking in on employees' well-being and safety.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

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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 today’s leadership spark, I speak with Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact. We delved into his personal journey and the importance of making tough choices and the key factors in navigating them, such as data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and transparency. 

He also emphasized the significance of having clear objectives and aligning them with the company's purpose, values, and culture. It’s important to stick to the organization's North Star and making decisions that prioritize client satisfaction and long-term relationships. Our conversation also touched on Genpact's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing their ability to adapt quickly and redeploy employees to meet changing demands.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

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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/

My interview today is with Dr. James Downing, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading authority in solving the world's toughest problems. With his visionary leadership, Dr. Downing has spearheaded groundbreaking advancements and transformed the landscape of healthcare.

In our conversation, we delve into the essence of problem-solving and explore the methodologies that drive progress. We uncover Dr. Downing's unique approach to breaking down complex challenges and determining their worthiness. Join us as we unravel the secrets of "blue sky" thinking, from assembling brilliant minds to generating and testing innovative ideas. Discover the key metrics for measuring success and learn how failures can be invaluable teachers.

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This episode is sponsored by: AvePoint

Rapidly reduce costs, improve productivity and make more informed business decisions with AvePoint. With the most advanced platform to optimize SaaS operations and secure collaboration, AvePoint helps you transform your digital workplace and collaborate with confidence. To get started, go to www.avepoint.com and learn how you can advance your digital workplace today.

__________________

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 today’s leadership spark, Executive Coach Tom Henschel and I talk about how to make your executive presence unique and stand out, emphasizing the importance of confidence and self-awareness. We also explore the three components of executive presence: gravitas, communication, and appearance. 

Tom highlights the significance of negative automatic thoughts and how managing them is crucial for building confidence and gravitas. As we wrapped up the discussion, Tom leaves us with an action item for improving executive presence: recording a short video and seeking feedback from others to gain insights and make adjustments.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

_________________

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 today’s leadership spark, Executive Coach Tom Henschel and I discuss the importance of communications and presence in leadership. Tom discusses the importance of concise communication, the art of answering questions effectively, and the tendency to drift off-topic in conversations. Tom also shares coaching insights and techniques to help leaders develop these skills and enhance their executive presence.

Tom and I dived deeper into how to determine if one has an executive presence, the importance of feedback and recognition over time, and the challenges and strategies for developing an executive presence in a virtual world. He also addressed the impact of technology on virtual executive presence, such as lighting, microphone quality, and camera positioning. Our conversation also covered whether executive presence is exclusive to extroverts or if introverts can also cultivate it with a game day attitude and conscious effort.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

________________

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 today’s leadership spark, Executive Coach Tom Henschel discusses the concept of executive presence and its crucial role in leadership and how it influences how others perceive and trust leaders. The nature of executive presence is diverse, as it varies across industries and organizational contexts.

According to Tom, executive presence encompasses both behavioral aspects and attitude, including confidence, the ability to command a room, and great speaking skills. Leaders often find it challenging to develop executive presence. While executive presence may not directly secure a promotion or job, its absence can hinder progress.

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This episode is sponsored by AvePoint. Take control of your SaaS environment and ensure secure collaboration with AvePoint.

___________________

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/