5 TED Talks that Will Change the Way You Think About Leadership & Productivity
by Heather Wolfson, CEO & Lead Strategist, Maven Leadership Consulting
Photo by Aatik Tasneem on Unsplash
TED Talks’ global community of powerful speakers is a wealth of empowering information. Whether you’re tuning in on YouTube or listening to the podcast version, anyone who has taken in a TED Talk or two is bound to be inspired.
It is a genuinely effective informational platform that proves that short, casual, and often humorous talks, which are often informed by the speakers’ personal experiences, are more persuasive and memorable than long, drawn-out books addressing the same subject.
In as little as three minutes, you can learn “5 Ways To Create Stronger Connections” in a tech-obsessed world from entrepreneur Robert Reffkin. In as few as five minutes, Columbia University professor Lucas Husted will answer, “Can You Predict Human Behavior?”
TED Talks respect listeners' time by employing the art of brevity to educate on a wide array of topics and share new perspectives. It’s the mini-Snickers of food for thought. Who could pass up a mini-Snickers that expands your mind?
Leadership and productivity are two of the most sought-after skills in business.
And while there are a lot of different opinions on how to achieve them, there's one thing most experts can agree on: TED Talks are a great place to start.
In the talks below, you'll learn about some of the best ways to boost productivity, manage time, and lead your team to success.
How Great Leaders Inspire Action - Simon Sinek
The takeaway: Great leaders inspire action by understanding what inspires people.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not money or power that inspires people. It's something much more fundamental: the desire to do something meaningful and be a part of something larger than themselves.
This applies to more than just leaders of large organizations. My ten-year-old once asked me how we become leaders, and I told him we are leaders daily when we inspire those around us.
So how can you apply this in your own life? Sinek offers three steps:
Start with why. Figure out what it is that you stand for and why it matters.
Communicate your vision in a way that makes people feel inspired and connected.
Take action and make sure your actions are in line with your values.
2. 3 Rules For Better Work-life Balance - Ashley Whillans
Whether you are caught up answering a work email during an important family event or taking a call from your boss while on vacation, work creeps into your free time.
While it seems unavoidable, are there things we can do to take back our time and enjoy it with the people that matter the most?
According to behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans, an "always-on" work culture ruins our personal and professional well-being.
She shares which habits stop us from getting what we need out of our free time and three practical steps for setting boundaries that stick.
3. How To Turn Off Work Thoughts During Your Free Time - Guy Winch
Burnt out?
Psychologist and author Guy Winch tackles the increasingly common problem head-on in this November 2019 TED Talk. Winch’s advice will teach you to stop ruminating over office tasks and tensions when you’re off the clock.
This one is a game-changer for the ultra-productive who are starting to cross the line into obsessiveness and for people who don’t want to invite work stress into their personal lives.
4. 10 Ways To Have A Better Conversation - Celeste Headlee
An oldie but a goodie. And in no way outdated.
In February 2016, TED Talk writer and radio host Celeste Headlee discussed the elements of great conversation, including clarity, brevity, and listening.
She says, “There is no reason to show that you are paying attention if you are paying attention.” In other words, don’t think of your response while someone else is talking. Just listen.
And get off your phone while you’re at it. This one is great for anyone who speaks to another human in any setting, professional or otherwise.
5. The Creative Curve: How to Develop the Right Idea at the Right Time - Allen Gannett
Allen Gannett explains how the creative process can be surprisingly simple and remarkably complex, depending on how you approach it.
According to Gannett, every leader should strive for an optimal balance between “creative exploration” and “productive exploitation.”
Productive exploitation is about identifying opportunities in the marketplace ripe for disruption and capitalizing on them. Creative exploration is about thinking outside the box and trying out new ideas that may lead to disruptive innovation.
Both aspects of creativity are essential for success, but balancing too much exploration and exploitation can be tricky.
Gannett suggests that it’s important to prioritize creative exploration while also paying attention to current trends to ensure that your ideas can succeed in the marketplace.
If you're looking to change the way you think about work and productivity, or if you're looking to get a little more out of your day-to-day life, these TED Talks are definitely worth a watch.
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