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What it takes to be a great leader | Roselinde Torres
Articles . Blog

What it takes to be a great leader | Roselinde Torres

On September 5, 2019 by Raul Dinwiddie


What makes a great leader today? Many of us carry this image of this all-knowing superhero who stands and commands and protects his followers. But that’s kind of an image from another time, and what’s also outdated are the leadership development programs that are based on success models for a world that was, not a world that is or that is coming. We conducted a study of 4,000 companies, and we asked them, let’s see the effectiveness of your leadership development programs. Fifty-eight percent of the companies cited significant talent gaps for critical leadership roles. That means that despite
corporate training programs, off-sites, assessments, coaching, all of these things, more than half the companies had failed to grow enough great leaders. You may be asking yourself, is my company helping me to prepare to be a great 21st-century leader? The odds are, probably not. Now, I’ve spent 25 years of my professional life observing what makes great leaders. I’ve worked inside Fortune 500 companies, I’ve advised over 200 CEOs, and I’ve cultivated more leadership pipelines than you can imagine. But a few years ago, I noticed a disturbing trend in leadership preparation. I noticed that, despite all the efforts, there were familiar stories that kept resurfacing about individuals. One story was about Chris, a high-potential, superstar leader who moves to a new unit and fails, destroying unrecoverable value. And then there were stories like Sidney, the CEO, who was so frustrated because her company is cited as a best company for leaders, but only one of the top 50 leaders is equipped to lead their crucial initiatives. And then there were stories like the senior leadership team of a once-thriving business that’s surprised by a market shift, finds itself having to force the company to reduce its size in half or go out of business. Now, these recurring stories cause me to ask two questions. Why are the leadership gaps widening when there’s so much more investment in leadership development? And what are the great leaders doing distinctly different to thrive and grow? One of the things that I did, I was so consumed by these questions and also frustrated by those stories, that I left my job so that I could study this full time, and I took a year to travel to different parts of the world to learn about effective and ineffective leadership practices in companies, countries and nonprofit organizations. And so I did things like travel to South Africa, where I had an opportunity to understand how Nelson Mandela was ahead of his time in anticipating and navigating his political, social and economic context. I also met a number of nonprofit leaders who, despite very limited financial resources, were making a huge impact in the world, often bringing together seeming adversaries. And I spent countless hours in presidential libraries trying to understand how the environment had shaped the leaders, the moves that they made, and then the impact of those moves beyond their tenure. And then, when I returned to work full time, in this role, I joined with wonderful colleagues who were also interested in these questions. Now, from all this, I distilled the characteristics of leaders who are thriving and what they do differently, and then I also distilled the preparation practices that enable people to grow to their potential. I want to share some of those with you now. (“What makes a great leader in the 21st century?”) In a 21st-century world, which is more global, digitally enabled and transparent, with faster speeds of information
flow and innovation, and where nothing big gets done without some kind of a complex matrix, relying on traditional development practices will stunt your growth as a leader. In fact, traditional assessments like narrow 360 surveys or
outdated performance criteria will give you false positives, lulling you into thinking that you are more prepared than you really are. Leadership in the 21st century is defined and evidenced by three questions. Where are you looking to anticipate the next change to your business model or your life? The answer to this question is on your calendar. Who are you spending time with? On what topics? Where are you traveling? What are you reading? And then how are you distilling this into understanding potential discontinuities, and then making a decision to do something right now so that you’re prepared and ready? There’s a leadership team that does a practice where they bring together each member collecting, here are trends that impact me, here are trends that impact another team member, and they share these, and then make decisions,
to course-correct a strategy or to anticipate a new move. Great leaders are not head-down. They see around corners, shaping their future, not just reacting to it. The second question is, what is the diversity measure of your personal and professional
stakeholder network? You know, we hear often about
good ol’ boy networks and they’re certainly alive and
well in many institutions. But to some extent, we all have a network of people that we’re comfortable with. So this question is about your capacity to develop relationships with people that are very different than you. And those differences can be biological, physical, functional, political,
cultural, socioeconomic. And yet, despite all these differences, they connect with you and they trust you enough to cooperate with you in achieving a shared goal. Great leaders understand that having a more diverse network is a source of pattern identification at greater levels and also of solutions, because you have people that are thinking differently than you are. Third question: are you courageous enough to abandon a practice that has
made you successful in the past? There’s an expression: Go along to get along. But if you follow this advice, chances are as a leader, you’re going to keep doing
what’s familiar and comfortable. Great leaders dare to be different. They don’t just talk about risk-taking, they actually do it. And one of the leaders shared with me the fact that the most impactful development comes when you are able to build the emotional stamina to withstand people telling you that your new idea is naïve or reckless or just plain stupid. Now interestingly, the people who will join you are not your usual suspects in your network. They’re often people that think differently and therefore are willing to join you in taking a courageous leap. And it’s a leap, not a step. More than traditional leadership programs, answering these three questions will determine your effectiveness as a 21st-century leader. So what makes a great leader in the 21st century? I’ve met many, and they stand out. They are women and men who are preparing themselves not for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow. Thank you. (Applause)

Tags: and, Business, leadership, TED, TED (Organization), TED Institute, ted talk, ted talks, [email protected], TEDTalk, TEDTalks, the, you
Written by Raul Dinwiddie

63 comments

  • Comment by Drew February 20, 2017 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    It took 9 minutes of watching to have more diversity training shoved down my throat.

  • Comment by MrJscorrea March 5, 2017 at 12:34 pm - Reply

    Not worth the time. Nothing truly said.

  • Comment by Eric Mailly March 7, 2017 at 4:48 am - Reply

    Doesn't really describe what it takes or what you can do that defines a leader?? Dissappointing as it is a TED talk!

  • Comment by Burak gülsular March 26, 2017 at 8:38 pm - Reply

    i could not find my answers :/

  • Comment by orangeflip May 2, 2017 at 8:11 pm - Reply

    i was waiting for it to get good then it ended

  • Comment by Khaled Dandashi June 1, 2017 at 9:34 pm - Reply

    I think leaders are some how made from their childhood. I don't think I know of anyone who studied and became a leader

  • Comment by Maan Hafiz June 10, 2017 at 7:12 am - Reply

    she shaking when she is talking!!

  • Comment by Hassan Fisher June 15, 2017 at 5:38 am - Reply

    great talk learned alot

  • Comment by ConMag New July 8, 2017 at 2:13 pm - Reply

    So Roselinde Torres is in fact a MD at a BCG branch. LOL LOL ROFL. The supposedly all inspiring, business savvy groups of people who can coach the greatest industry leaders with powerpoint templates. Such a waste of talents, if you think about it. Those smart students of top university grads, then going on to do these kinds of jobs.

  • Comment by Nicklas Johnston August 17, 2017 at 4:06 am - Reply

    Why does she look like Umbridges younger sister who went into business instead of politics.

  • Comment by Harlem Ngaue August 21, 2017 at 11:14 pm - Reply

    our school is doing leaders

  • Comment by Noah Tafengatoto August 21, 2017 at 11:17 pm - Reply

    leaders are thease paople

  • Comment by Ghanashyam Pokharel August 30, 2017 at 7:57 am - Reply

    very nice lecture

  • Comment by Helgurd Mirza September 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - Reply

    Is about here or leaderships? !

  • Comment by Sanctimon October 6, 2017 at 11:15 pm - Reply

    A 9 minute 20 second video and more than 50% introduction. When the main body is eventually arrived at, it is just meaningless jargon.

  • Comment by simon tacey October 11, 2017 at 3:00 pm - Reply

    Wishy washy

  • Comment by 🚀Kalle🚀 November 4, 2017 at 6:52 pm - Reply

    Most of this isn't right. The key is in self confidence, rhetoric and your aura. Trump is an awesome example, because he got president. #Fact In this way he's my role model. It worked for him and his supporters. He's a leader for them.

  • Comment by James Cortez November 17, 2017 at 1:28 am - Reply

    Wow this taught me absolutely nothing,

  • Comment by BobbyFischer0000 November 27, 2017 at 3:35 pm - Reply

    Why is her voice so deep?

  • Comment by Paul Knittle December 3, 2017 at 5:50 pm - Reply

    Define diverse network? Does it include rapist, drug dealers, thieves? Does it include quid pro quo? I have saw a manager act without thinking about the consequence; when the riot occurred the manager claimed that they had to act quickly. The gist, the manager started a fire and put it out then claimed victory and promoted they were a great leader because they knew exactly how to stop the riot.

  • Comment by Iftikhar Kango December 9, 2017 at 5:11 pm - Reply

    Making me slee…zzz, zz…

  • Comment by Alberto Ramos Parra January 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm - Reply

    Hi all,
    It would be great if you help me by completing the following survey for an academic research paper on leadership (no more than 5 min)
    https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LN66LYR
    Many Thanks

  • Comment by 이정민 January 17, 2018 at 4:46 am - Reply

    booooooooooooooooooring

  • Comment by Dom Mination999 March 27, 2018 at 2:35 pm - Reply

    skip to 5:00 guys 🙂 boring speech just cant get into the point.

  • Comment by V Remus April 1, 2018 at 1:49 am - Reply

    THAT INTRO WAS MORE THAN 5 MINUTES LONG. THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A HORRIBLE SPEECH.

  • Comment by bar363363 April 1, 2018 at 5:37 am - Reply

    she spent 25 years on nothing.
    one of the worst lectures here.

  • Comment by hi hi May 23, 2018 at 2:29 am - Reply

    I always claim leadership in school group work and I take the risks I make sure everyone is doing it right and I tell them what to do if they say that my way is not efficient I take the risk and the longer they stall the more time they lose because I know what’s good on groupwork

  • Comment by NIGHT hawk 3000 May 28, 2018 at 6:34 am - Reply

    Stop breathing so weird. Like omg and stop salivating.

  • Comment by Cru3l W0rld _ May 29, 2018 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    This is a kind of meh… This was definitely a very boring talk, and the material was alright.

  • Comment by The DodoBird August 2, 2018 at 4:13 am - Reply

    I’m little and I wanna be someone big in the future but…what I see right now that makes a great leader is logical risks, getting along with each other despite differences, being peaceful, and taking steps not words if I’m wrong with something or if you suggest something please tell me I really want to be successful as a leader thank you.

  • Comment by Dramatic Chromatics August 7, 2018 at 4:13 am - Reply

    Bad video, waste of time… Learned nothing about leadership from this

  • Comment by Gusta Ant August 16, 2018 at 2:43 am - Reply

    Watching this cause my football coach has asked me to be the leader of the jv team. I don't want to fail them.

  • Comment by Juancho Bolivar September 4, 2018 at 12:38 pm - Reply

    is it me? or she sound really nervous… her respiration it is weird…

  • Comment by strategy show September 5, 2018 at 7:07 pm - Reply

    Erich Schönleitner says "Don't put the job, or other people or anything else first. First you, and then the others. They then will feel that you are true and authentic, and you will be more able to help them than if you neglect yourself." – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfaEbs9ZK1Y

  • Comment by Mahesh Lohar September 6, 2018 at 3:18 pm - Reply

    Leadership Qualities
    http://maheshlohar94.blogspot.com/2018/09/top-5-leadership-qualities-you-must-have.html

  • Comment by Boobyjoe 1738 September 13, 2018 at 9:37 pm - Reply

    Low key my screen froze and I thought buddy was a dude

  • Comment by MUSIC PLAY September 18, 2018 at 11:49 pm - Reply

    Hey me pasas tú número?

  • Comment by Victor Paredes September 25, 2018 at 1:47 pm - Reply

    Weak

  • Comment by Victor Paredes September 25, 2018 at 1:49 pm - Reply

    Pooor comm.skills…dont teach me…inspire and motivate me….this brings forth leaders….find your God given purpose this makes Great Leaders

  • Comment by Venkatesh Kalla September 25, 2018 at 10:47 pm - Reply

    Great Leadership is all about trying to bring change in in-human Humans to be more Humane.

  • Comment by Ahmed Sheikh October 6, 2018 at 2:37 am - Reply

    start at 5:34

  • Comment by Jacqueline b Tocci Gail Helena Billings October 6, 2018 at 11:53 pm - Reply

    I have republican friends in Kansas that would agree with me!

  • Comment by GJKincses October 14, 2018 at 1:34 pm - Reply

    ALWAYS REMEMBER
    We also need inspirational leaders who guide , and empower others to capitalise and galvanise on the negatives as positives , resulting in greater awareness and resilience alternatives to all levels of criticism.

  • Comment by Ta Neyleme October 17, 2018 at 5:42 pm - Reply

    Thank you Rosalinda.I have watched almost 5 or 6 times.Really impressed me and keep me motivated to work for BCG.

  • Comment by Patricia Hdez-Ortiz October 25, 2018 at 6:08 am - Reply

    I really enjoyed this talk.
    It gave good context as to why my generation has emerged with great dreams and not enough to actually make it.

  • Comment by Thom Al October 28, 2018 at 2:20 am - Reply

    I don't recall this female or any female being a great leader. When yuo are a great leader then you can talk about great leaders.

  • Comment by Haraprasad Senapati January 1, 2019 at 2:33 pm - Reply

    I didn't found it boring rather more inspirational

  • Comment by Strategy Dimension January 24, 2019 at 10:24 am - Reply

    One word
    Produce

  • Comment by Srini Sivabalan January 25, 2019 at 9:31 pm - Reply

    This speech would have been good if it had lasted 30 seconds. She speaks much, tells little. One key secret of leadership is to be NOT boring.

  • Comment by Vedic Aryan February 2, 2019 at 3:37 pm - Reply

    She is one of those empty suit executive

  • Comment by THE LOWLANDER March 2, 2019 at 7:03 pm - Reply

    Effective technic to tail maximum with minimum points.

  • Comment by Zahid H Khan March 3, 2019 at 2:35 pm - Reply

    great.

  • Comment by Llewellyn Kinnaird April 4, 2019 at 3:41 pm - Reply

    Lol women leadership… Look good talk in circles.

  • Comment by Autumn Joy April 11, 2019 at 11:37 pm - Reply

    A leader can appear in different forms, but the similar thread between them all is integrity between your words and actions, ability to learn and adapt, and someone who welcomes risk into their life.

  • Comment by Elmeri April 18, 2019 at 6:08 am - Reply

    I don't think she even answered the topic. She just added like 20 more questions in 10 minute presentation… I didn't get much out of this tbh

  • Comment by Hard Rate Nate April 30, 2019 at 4:52 pm - Reply

    Surprised this was a TED and not TEDx

  • Comment by محمود صلاح الدين May 14, 2019 at 9:25 pm - Reply

    Thank you a lot.

  • Comment by Jacquelyn Pickard May 26, 2019 at 3:56 am - Reply

    I don’t like that her images wasn’t diversed… it through me of because as a African American woman, I would love to see leaders that look like me… smh.

  • Comment by Avacodo June 1, 2019 at 2:58 pm - Reply

    Poor presentation, not worthy of TED

  • Comment by Curious Communicator June 20, 2019 at 11:15 am - Reply

    Some long standing leadership points covered, thanks!

  • Comment by Gautam Khandelwal June 25, 2019 at 7:03 pm - Reply

    Watch this… Mr. Abdul Kalam nailed it.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H086aEKchcs

  • Comment by mr.knowitall July 10, 2019 at 11:59 pm - Reply

    Taking responsibility for a group and sacrificing one's desires for the greater good is typically what makes great leaders. They don't ask others to do what they, themselves, are unwilling to do or haven't yet done.

  • Comment by Lee McKusick July 17, 2019 at 5:57 am - Reply

    Her three items, I think: Where are you looking to anticipate change? What is the diversity measure of your network? Are you courageous enough to abandon the past? From the way she talks, she is a consultant that helps chief executive officers build a staff with a couple of innovative people. I am guessing that the reason no persons were named in this talk is because whatever the CEO does as a result of one of the innovative people's, the company wants to keep it secret to prevent competitors from copying.

    Lucky for us, the work of you and me and our kids of finding a pathway into the extraordinary unknown global warming future will not mainly be done by this activity of hiring people which is called 'cultivating or training business leadership'. Let us toast each other with Odwalla fruit juice, (a division of whoever). In my opinion, the impossible thing which business must learn to do is subdivide itself, over and over.

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