What’s Your Leadership Language? | Rosita Najmi | TED
Navigating Leadership Languages
Introduction to Multilingual Leadership
- The speaker, an Iranian refugee with extensive international experience, reflects on their initial assumptions about navigating cultures and languages.
- They quickly realize that their expectations were misguided upon starting business school.
- On the first day, they encounter a mix of jargon from various sectors, which feels alien compared to familiar languages like English or Persian.
Discovering Leadership Languages
- Instead of learning about leadership styles, the speaker discovers the concept of "leadership languages" essential for effective communication across different sectors.
- The speaker poses a question: How does one become multilingual in leadership?
Early Experiences and Learning
- In college, the speaker co-founded a nonprofit focused on public health while studying microfinance in West Africa.
- They highlight successful collective action through creative advocacy campaigns like "Band Aids for Benin."
- The speaker studied various leadership styles (e.g., autocratic, democratic), realizing there is no single best style.
Adapting Leadership Styles
- Many leaders default to one style akin to their native language; however, this approach may not be effective in all situations.
- Leaders should focus less on personal style and more on adapting their approach based on situational needs and team dynamics.
Importance of Multilingualism in Leadership
- Successful leaders aspire to be multilingual, effectively communicating across diverse groups and translating between them.
The Role of Multilingual Leaders
Insights from Impact Investing Study
- While working at Omidyar Network, the speaker sponsored a study revealing that successful impact investing funds were led by multilingual leaders who could navigate multiple perspectives.
- These leaders ensured their teams also possessed multilingual capabilities.
Surprising Findings
- Contrary to expectations that financial acumen was key, the study emphasized communication skills across sectors as crucial for success.
Key Areas for Leadership Focus
Proposed Topics for Leaders
- The speaker suggests three critical areas where leaders should concentrate: data, climate, and power.
Sector-Specific Measurement Differences
- Different sectors measure impact using varying timelines: private sector focuses on short-term metrics while nonprofits may take decades to achieve goals.
Collaboration Across Sectors
- All sectors must collaborate effectively to achieve common outcomes despite differing measurement approaches.
Addressing Power Dynamics
Gender Equality Initiatives Across Sectors
- Public sector leaders can create equity through regulations promoting gender data use and setting goals for women's representation.
Business Sector Contributions
- Business leaders can design inclusive products/services that empower female customers and invest in women-owned businesses.
Philanthropy's Role
Funding Research and Empowering Women
Importance of Funding and Training
- Funding is essential for both public and private sectors to conduct necessary research and training.
- Campaigns and grassroots efforts can significantly influence social and cultural norms, promoting positive change.
Women's Leadership in Decision-Making
- It is crucial to support women in attaining decision-making roles at various levels: households, communities, countries, and economies.
The Role of Multilingual Leaders
- A multilingual leader can effectively communicate across different sectors to identify root causes of issues.
- Collaboration among diverse groups is vital for finding solutions to complex societal challenges.
Focus on Leadership Languages
- Over 20 years of experience distilled into a key insight: leadership styles should not be the primary concern.
- Emphasis should be placed on understanding and developing one's leadership languages instead.
Call to Action for Leaders