In this episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we delve into the intricacies of leadership with the insightful Martin Gutman, a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and author of "The Unseen Leader." Together, we unpack the provocative themes of his book, which Adam Grant praised for its critical look at what history can teach us about effective leadership.
Martin challenges conventional wisdom by questioning the glorification of historical figures like Ernest Shackleton, whose dramatic failures are often overlooked in favour of Hollywood-esque heroism. We contrast this with leaders like Roald Amundsen, whose quiet success and authentic leadership style offer more valuable lessons.
We also explore women's powerful, yet often hidden, influence in leadership through the story of Gertrude Bell, whose strategic brilliance shaped the modern state of Iraq. Despite her significant impact, her contributions remain largely unrecognized—a testament to the gender biases of history.
As we navigate the pitfalls of leadership, such as the busyness trap and the action-oriented bias, we discuss the importance of humility, integrity, and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Martin shares his insights on the future of leadership, emphasising the need for diverse leaders who embody emotional intelligence, strong communication skills, and the ability to foster genuine connections.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone seeking to understand leadership's true essence beyond conventional narratives' noise and drama. Join us as we redefine leadership for the modern era and consider how unique individuals can experiment and find our path to impactful leadership.
Episode Chapters
(00:43) Adam Grant wrote a lovely introduction to your leadership book
(02:11) Martin says Shackleton is the wrong person to profile in leadership books
(09:00) You write about Gertrude Bell and her excellent leadership
(09:53) Why do we celebrate certain historical leaders and not others?
(13:54) Martin: Leaders should be comfortable being who they are, really
(20:07) Adam Grant says ego stops leaders from learning and being proactive
(25:12) You're looking into some different things when it comes to leadership
(30:47) You mentioned the busyness trap in your book
(34:23) We mentioned loudness and talking, uh, and then we mentioned busyness
(40:57) Peter Schulz: When we look at the leader for the future,
(46:56) Martin will be giving a talk in Berlin at the beginning of next month
(47:49) Running is an experiment of one, and so is leadership, Peter says
Watch Martin's Ted Talk: Are we celebrating the wrong leaders?https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_gutmann_are_we_celebrating_the_wrong_leaders
