10 Insights on Willful Blindness and Leadership — Margaret Heffernan

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This presentation consists of highlights from the interview with Moe Abdou,

founder & host of 33voices®.

MARGARET HEFFERNAN is an entrepreneur, Chief Executive and author. She was born in Texas, raised in Holland and educated at Cambridge University.

She worked in BBC Radio for five years where she wrote, directed, produced and commissioned dozens of documentaries and dramas.

Margaret Heffernan

@M_Heffernan

Author and Speaker

It’s an admired leader who values the importance of having thinking partners who

aren’t echo chambers, for it’s impossible to do your best thinking with a solo perspective.

Insight #1

Insight #2

You’re willfully blind if there’s information that you could know, and

should know and somehow manage not to know it. Resist the temptation.

Insight #3

Acknowledge that you’re willfully blind in your own way, and you’ll be more likely to ask more complicated questions

that will widen your perspective.

Insight #4

It’s wise to remember that every decision you make is a hypothesis, for

often, it’s your certainty that is your greatest cause for alarm. Try asking these questions:

Insight #4

It’s wise to remember that every decision you make is a hypothesis, for

often, it’s your certainty that is your greatest cause for alarm. Try asking these questions:

If I’m right, what will I wish in the future I had done right now?

Insight #4

It’s wise to remember that every decision you make is a hypothesis, for

often, it’s your certainty that is your greatest cause for alarm. Try asking these questions:

If I’m right, what will the signs be?

Insight #4

It’s wise to remember that every decision you make is a hypothesis, for

often, it’s your certainty that is your greatest cause for alarm. Try asking these questions:

If I’m wrong, what will the signs be?

Insight #5

Modern leadership is less about being the smartest person in the room, and more towards a collective style that

creates competent, trustworthy individuals who excel at working together and

sharing a broader perspective.

Insight #6

Smart leaders understand that hiring the smartest people is just part of the

equation, for unless you create a culture in which they want to help one another, you’ll never get the value out of them.

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:

How creative is your organization?

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:

How often do you introduce new products?

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:

How quickly do you adapt to market conditions?

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:

How hard is it to get people to work for your company?

Insight #7

The job of a leader is to change as the company changes, but ahead of it. To get a pulse of your impact, ask these questions:Are you able to pay people less and still keep them working for your company?

Insight #8

Helpfulness way outperforms individual intelligence, for only when you build a team

committed to helping one another will you be able to solve more difficult problems faster.

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

How fast does information flow in our company?

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

How generous are people to each other?

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

How helpful is our environment?

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

How high is the degree of trust?

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

How are people connected with each other?

Insight #9

It’s an astute entrepreneur who resists the allure of looking at her

valuation, for she knows that her work goes way beyond making money. Instead, she asks:

What’s our impact on the world?

Insight #10

If you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or senior executive, remember:

Insight #10

If you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or senior executive, remember:

Never to take things personally

Insight #10

If you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or senior executive, remember:

Never to be afraid

Insight #10

If you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or senior executive, remember:

Always to embrace that it’s going to be hard

Insight #10

If you’re an aspiring female entrepreneur or senior executive, remember:

When it gets really hard, it’s not a reflection of your talent; it’s an indication that you’re doing something that matters to the world.

Reflect: What do you know for certain that you often

overlook, willingly?

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Presentation created by Chase Jennings

Insights by Moe Abdou