315: Willie Pietersen’s “Leadership: The Inside Story

Heather talks to  Willie Pietersen about his book  "Leadership: The Inside Story" They discuss the transformative power of asking the right questions and how storytelling can elevate leadership practices. 

Willie Pietersen is a seasoned consultant for CEOs and teaches at Columbia University. 

In this insightful episode, you'll learn: 

• How Evolution, Philosophy, and Astrophysics Influence Leadership

Willie shares how his interest in evolution, philosophy, and astrophysics has influenced his leadership, thinking and approach. Willie explains how these fields have helped him understand the importance of continuous learning, adaptation, and humility in leadership.

• Learning and Memory 

Willie discusses the importance of writing down and reviewing learnings and shares research on memory retention. Willie also shares his experience of keeping a learning journal since he was 16 and how it has helped him retain knowledge and insights. 

• Asking the Right Question

Willie shares a historical example of how asking the right questions can lead to breakthroughs. He emphasizes the importance of framing questions correctly in leadership and how it can help leaders avoid getting stuck in a particular mindset or approach.

• Storytelling in Leadership

Willie shares the power of storytelling in leadership. He highlights the importance of storytelling and how it can help leaders convey complex ideas and values simply and memorably.

 

In this episode for Libsyn:

[0.00 - 3.24] Introduction and Background

[3.25 - 7.28] Influences on Leadership Thinking

[12.34 - 16.03] Learning and Memory

[20.00 - 28.32] Asking the Right Questions

[28.33 - 34.54] Storytelling in Leadership

 

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