Nadeen Matthews Blair shares an article on the value of leading with empathy based on insights drawn from the book, The Ride of a Lifetime, by Bob Iger, CEO of Disney.
The Ride of a Lifetime, which captures Robert “Bob” Iger’s story and lessons from his tenure as CEO of Disney was an inspiring read that moved me to tears a few times as I listened during my commutes to and from work. Early in the book, Bob Iger outlines his ten principles of leadership. Though these were powerful and relevant, the leadership lessons that resonated the most were not explicitly listed, but lay abundantly clear in his response in character defining moments. Three scenarios stand out, two of which moved me to tears again as I reviewed my notes.
Scenario 1: Alligator attack on 2-year-old at Disney property
Lesson: Lead with Empathy
After a 2-year old was killed in an alligator attack at a Disney property, Bob Iger reached out to the parents and spoke from his heart, as a parent and a grandparent. He suspended the traditional corporate focus on minimizing legal liability and focused on the people and their grief. He gave his promise when the father said “Promise me that my son’s life won’t be in vain. Promise me you will do whatever you can to prevent this from happening to another child.” He also let them know how they could reach him at any time.
Scenario 2: Black Panther production opposition
Lesson: Defy commonly held notions, myths and hypotheses. They’re normally grounded in unfounded bias and suppress possibilities and MAGIC!
Key points include:
- Pixar, Marvel & Star Wars partnership negotiations
- Win-win partnerships
- Defying commonly held notions
Read the full article, Leading with Humanity, on LinkedIn.