'Developing Future Leaders' with Molly Harvey

In this stimulating episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, host Andy Lopata welcomes Molly Harvey, a leading authority in the world of leadership development as well as the founder of OWL (Outstanding Women Leaders). Molly Harvey is an author, facilitator, and speaker who has more than 30 years of experience that includes involvement with the United Nations. Focusing on the development of future leaders, a topic Molly is deeply passionate about, the conversation unravels captivating insights.

Molly underlines the importance of self-aware leadership and emotional intelligence, explaining that leaders should be cognisant of their influence and should appreciate each team member's contribution to the group dynamics. She believes that the capacity to pose theme-specific questions is an essential skill for future leaders, leading to surprising insights and facilitating positive change.

Explaining a term she encountered at the UN, "Social artists of tomorrow", Molly describes these future leaders as adept networkers who build learning communities, comprehend intricate group dynamics, discern trends amidst chaos, and strategically capitalise on opportunities. Moving from the traditional fast-track of leadership that is based largely on an individual's academic accomplishments, Molly argues against the outdated concept of un-strategic hard work equating to success. She highlights the need for leaders to work not harder but smarter. She explains how implementing disciplines like allocated thinking time can lead to more efficient and effective leadership. This progressive approach, albeit demanding a high level of discipline, shapes leaders who are well-equipped to handle the complexities of a volatile business landscape.

Andy and Molly also discuss developing leadership from the "inside out" through authenticity and maintaining presence. This includes acknowledging strengths and limitations as well as leveraging team members' abilities for collective success. She emphasises the significance of aspiring leaders finding and drawing inspiration from revered leaders within their organisation. She endorses starting the day mindfully, proposing that dedicating time for reflection at the start of the day can yield considerable advantages.

The conversation takes a turn to address the critical issue of gender equity in the professional realm. Andy expressed concern about the perceived regression in gender balance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of hybrid working. Molly acknowledges that while there is increased representation of women at the boardroom level, many women report feeling overworked and question the pursuit of top leadership positions. She highlights the necessity of designing more inclusive and family-friendly policies that accommodate the unique challenges faced by women in the workforce.

Enriched by Molly Harvey's astute perspectives, this episode provides a novel outlook on the attributes that future leaders will embody and the role incumbent leaders play in fostering these traits within their teams. 

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