Conventional thinking is the enemy of change | 10 leadership truths from #LinkageGILD

What an incredible week! 500 leaders from around the world convened for our 21st Global Institute for Leadership Development^® in Palm Desert, CA, for five days of immersive learning facilitated by a faculty of 60 best-selling authors, thought leaders, coaches and international business leaders. We shared findings from the largest leadership research study we’ve ever conducted in our 30 years of business. Download your copy of the findings: Rethinking Leadership: The Power of Purpose.

Together, we explored the world of purposeful leadership. We heard stories of leaders from the arts, military, corporate and academia who have found their why and turned it into a broader mission to change the people, organizations and communities around them. There were countless moments that left us inspired, but we’ve boiled it down to 10 that serve as reminders of where we’ve been on this journey and the possibilities that lie ahead.

1. Become someone worth following. Matt Norquist challenged us to think about what really matters to each of us—in leadership and in life. To do this, we must be willing to tackle big questions like what am I here for?
2. Purpose isn’t a luxury—it’s fundamental. It’s up to each one of us to uncover our calling. GILD co-chair Richard Leider shared a 2 Minute Purpose Practice.
3. Get curious. On purpose. There are a lot of voices in our head competing for our attention—they often trigger us to feel grandiosity or shame. These feelings can negatively impact our relationships. GILD co-chair Susan MacKenty Brady offers a practical method to manage this.
4. Coaching is essential. It starts with asking the right questions, being patient, and really listening. GILD faculty Michael Bungay Stanier offers tools to get started.
5. The work of a leader is to create more leaders. What happens when we challenge ourselves to think differently about leadership development? Warren Bennis Award winner Tom Kolditz explains a one-of-a-kind leadership experience.
6. Leaders make culture. Culture generates energy, innovation and happiness—and is built on shared values, a vision for the future, trust, and letting everyone else make decisions. GILD faculty Jim Estill explores the impact of culture.
7. Listen to your people. The answer to whatever is troubling your company is inside your company—that’s where the innovation will come from. Bill Strickland shares words of wisdom.
8. Conventional thinking is the enemy of change. We must look it in the eye–and tackle it from the perspective of here’s what’s holding us back. Here are 50 reasons we can (and can’t) change.
9. Cultural differences matter. Understanding cultural context across eight scales will help improve a leader’s effectiveness as he/she engages those around him/her. Erin Meyer reminded us that we tend to evaluate things from our own cultural lens.
10. Your journey as a leader is from execution to empowerment. Give up the role of executing—you can’t get to second base when your foot is still on first base. Empower someone else. Hear more pearls from Carla.

Which moment resonated most with you? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Mark your calendars for 2018! Join us September 30–October 5 for your own GILD experience.