Hans-Werner Kass: McKinsey & Company’s Step-by-step Approach to Transforming Leaders

In this episode, Hans-Werner Kaas, senior partner emeritus at McKinsey & Company and co-author of The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out, discusses how empathy, vulnerability, and purpose define successful leadership. Drawing from his decades of coaching global CEOs and his role in McKinsey's Bower Forum, Hans-Werner emphasizes that true leadership starts with self-awareness and the ability to form meaningful connections.

Hans-Werner challenges the outdated notion that leaders must always be the smartest or most authoritative. Instead, he argues that vulnerability is a strength, fostering trust and openness in teams. By sharing personal struggles, embracing feedback, and admitting mistakes, leaders build bonds that enhance collaboration and innovation. He also highlights the importance of empathy, noting that immersing oneself in others’ perspectives creates trust and inspires purpose-driven cultures.

The Bower Forum’s model is presented as a practical framework for leadership development. It encourages leaders to create personal “commitment plans” focused on self-growth, team leadership, and organizational impact. Hans-Werner shares stories of CEOs who transformed their leadership styles by adopting empathy and a willingness to learn from failures. He advocates for “fearless learning,” which involves questioning assumptions, adapting to new realities, and using setbacks as growth opportunities.

Key takeaways include:

1. Reflect on Leadership Style: Examine how you respond to mistakes and feedback. Identify one behavior to improve trust with your team.
2. Build Genuine Connections: Engage in meaningful conversations to understand team members’ perspectives and challenges.
3. Challenge Long-Held Beliefs: Reevaluate assumptions and explore how adapting them can lead to better decisions.
4. Practice Fearless Learning: Analyze setbacks without assigning blame and outline actionable steps to improve.
5. Create a Commitment Plan: Define goals for leading yourself, your team, and your organization, and revisit them regularly.

Hans-Werner’s insights demonstrate that leadership success today hinges on authenticity and emotional intelligence. By fostering a culture of care, trust, and adaptability, leaders can create resilient and high-performing organizations. Vulnerability, self-awareness, and empathy are not just traits of effective leaders—they are essential for building thriving teams and achieving sustainable success.

Links/Resources:

Website: https://www.mckinsey.com/

Bower Forum: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/how-we-help-clients/mckinsey-academy/executive-programs/bower-forum

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Leadership-CEOs-Learn-Inside/dp/0593714210/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanswernerkaas/

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