TLP194: Dan Pink (Part III/III): To Be Great, You Have to Be Good

The Leadership Podcast

This is the final episode with Dan Pink, and the discussion was far-reaching. Leaders are most effective when asking great questions, and listening intently to truly understand other perspectives and points of view. Dan also discusses the moral obligation to help others get ahead, and to develop people with intention. As we face future challenges - technological and others - it’s important to think across different disciplines with unbridled curiosity and an openness to other points of view.

Key Takeaways

[1:10] When should a leader fall on their sword? People have fewer regrets about doing the right thing than they have about making accommodations against doing the right thing.

[4:35] Dan shares some of his favorite questions that he’s received/asked over the years.

[7:25] When you ask ‘what’ questions vs. ‘how’ questions, people tend to give you more forward-facing answers.

[9:00] A good question to ask is, “What problems do people bring you to solve?”

[11:35] Dan believes to be successful you need to have a mix of effort, good taste, luck, and social advantage.

[16:10] As a successful person and leader, you have a moral obligation to help those behind you.

[19:30] Do we get the incentives wrong when it comes to encouraging good behavior? Dan’s answer is that it depends on the organization and its structure.

[23:20] When it comes to the educational piece, Dan believes it’s important to teach people to think across different disciplines.

[24:45] Can someone be both a good man and a great man? Dan thinks in order to be great you have to be good.

Quotable Quotes

• “A leader who has their team’s back establishes psychological safety.”
• “People have fewer regrets about doing the right thing than they have about making accommodations against doing the right thing.”
• People need two very basic things: Freedom to think, and freedom to learn.

Where to follow Dan Pink

Twitter: @DanielPink

Facebook: @DanielHPink

Website: DanPink.com

Resources and Books Mentioned

• When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel H. Pink
• A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel H. Pink
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
• To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, by Daniel H. Pink
• Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself, by Daniel H. Pink
• Leaders: Myth and Reality, by Jason Mangone, Jeff Eggers, and Stanley A. McChrystal
• Team Of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley A. McChrystal
• My Share of the Task: A Memoir, by General Stanley A. McChrystal
• Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value, by Bill George
• Courage: The Backbone of Leadership, by Gus Lee with Diane Elliott-Lee
• Dr. Vivek Murthy
• Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
• Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives, by Daniel Levitin
• “The Lesson to Unlearn,” by Paul Graham
• Salesbrain.com
• How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen
• The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, by Amy Edmondson
• Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to Be the Best... and Learn from the Worst, by Robert I. Sutton, Ph.D.

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