Inspiration to Elevate Your Leadership in the New Year

These TED Talks Will Motivate You to be a Better Leader

It’s that time of year. We’re looking ahead, and making resolutions for enhancing our work and personal lives in the next chapter. For many of us in leadership positions, or those who aspire to be, our goals for 2016 may include sharpening our leadership skills.

One of my favorite places for inspirational advice is in TED talks. TED is of course known for its short, powerful talks. When it comes to the topic of leadership, you can find lots of motivation via TED. Here are a few recent talks that rise above the rest, in my opinion, and can help propel you in 2016.

What it Takes to Be a Great Leader
“The world is full of leadership programs, but the best way to learn how to lead might be right under your nose. In this clear, candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years observing truly great leaders at work, and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future.”

Why It’s Time to Forget the Pecking Order at Work
“Organizations are often run according to ‘the superchicken model,’ where the value is placed on star employees who outperform others. And yet, this isn’t what drives the most high-achieving teams. Business leader Margaret Heffernan observes that it is social cohesion — built every coffee break, every time one team member asks another for help — that leads over time to great results. It’s a radical rethink of what drives us to do our best work, and what it means to be a leader. Because as Heffernan points out: ‘Companies don’t have ideas. Only people do.’”

How to Manage for Collective Creativity
“What’s the secret to unlocking the creativity hidden inside your daily work, and giving every great idea a chance? Harvard professor Linda Hill, co-author of ‘Collective Genius,’ has studied some of the world’s most creative companies to come up with a set of tools and tactics to keep great ideas flowing — from everyone in the company, not just the designated ‘creatives.’”

Roselinde, Margaret and Linda all leave me feeling inspired and ready to tackle the New Year. What about you? Want more information? You can view the full library of TED leadership talks on the TED site.

And if your organization is looking for new or enhanced programs for developing your emerging and women leaders, be sure to contact us. We can help.