Wednesday Wisdom: Leadership Strategies for Thriving Organizations with Oddi Aasheim from FirstHuman

About Oddi: Partner - Performance Interventions   I feel privileged getting to spend my days working with people that are up for making our world a truly exciting and fulfilling place. I partner with leaders and executives committed to transforming their organisations, develop groundbreaking strategic solutions, mobilising executive teams and organisations into passionate and purposeful action.     Quick recap

Summary

AI, Personal Growth, and Leadership

Michael and Oddi discussed using AI for personal growth and the concept of leadership, particularly in unfamiliar situations. Michael, the founder of Breakfast Leadership, emphasized the evolving definition of leadership and used the example of a new album that blends multiple genres to illustrate how things can be categorized in ways that may not fully represent them. Oddi, with a background in engineering and strategy consulting, showed interest in understanding what leadership looks like when faced with the unknown.

Addressing Analysis Paralysis in Leadership

Michael expressed concern about leaders with analysis paralysis due to over-reliance on KPIs and other data. Oddi responded by emphasizing the importance of leadership being contextually aware and committed to their circumstances. Oddi further argued that the fear of justification and criticism leads to analysis paralysis and discourages leaders from fully engaging with their situations. Oddi suggested that leaders should focus on tuning into their circumstances and identifying opportunities rather than trying to emulate past successful leaders.

Michael's Decision-Making Process and Trial Implementation

Michael shared an experience from his time as the head of a healthcare clinic, where his decision was initially questioned but later proved beneficial. He discussed how he implemented the decision after considering its impact on the staff and ensuring their approval. However, the change initially caused anger and dissatisfaction among the physicians, clinicians, and other staff. To rectify the situation, Michael proposed a six-month trial with the option to revert if necessary. He mentioned that the people affected by the change were still at their new location seven years later, suggesting that they had come to appreciate the benefits of the change.

Leadership Challenges and Self-Doubt

Michael and Oddi discussed the challenges of leadership and the importance of understanding and respecting individual motivations. Oddi emphasized that a leader's role is to guide people, not to impose a vision on them. Michael added that leaders should not expect consensus but focus on driving and directing. They also touched on the insecurity and self-doubt that often come with leadership positions and the need for leaders to recognize and manage these feelings.

Balancing Work Ethics and Focus

Oddi and Michael discussed the pressures and challenges of the modern workplace. Michael highlighted the familiar feelings of being overworked and overwhelmed among employees, emphasizing the importance of a work ethic. Oddi agreed, noting that as employees progress in their careers, their professional credibility becomes tied to their knowledge and ability to resolve complex issues. Both acknowledged the need for focus and tunnel vision in certain situations while stressing the importance of being open to opportunities and not becoming too narrowly focused.

Creating an Environment for Team Success

Oddi emphasized the importance of creating an environment that fosters new ideas and allows people to thrive without his direct involvement. Michael concurred, highlighting the danger of ego and the need for accountability partners to keep leaders in check. He shared his leadership philosophy of providing his team with everything they need to succeed, stating that the results would naturally follow. Both agreed that the success of their respective roles was due to their teams' efforts.

Building Trust and Open Communication in Work

Oddi and Michael discussed the importance of building trust and open communication in a work context. Oddi emphasized the value of creating a safe space for ideas to be shared, where people feel comfortable being honest and straight. Michael agreed, highlighting that such an environment fosters collaboration and innovation. Both stressed the need for individuals to show a genuine interest in the ideas and perspectives of others, as this encourages more open and honest communication.

Psychological Safety and Thriving Organizations

Michael and Oddi discussed the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment in organizations, emphasizing that empowering people and focusing on stakeholders, including customers and communities, leads to thriving organizations, especially during challenging times. They highlighted the significance of giving employees autonomy, being available for questions and ideas, and then letting them execute their tasks. Oddi also mentioned a study on successful Indian businesses, which showed that prioritizing people's thriving and alignment with company values was a key factor. Lastly, Oddi introduced their business, FirstHuman, which offers executives various programs and business coaching. https://www.firsthuman.com/