Leadership has the power to change the world, and a leader that has always caught my attention is Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella. His curiosity and passion for living with a growth mindset and embracing change intrigued me to learn more about him. I decided to purchase a copy of his book, Hit Refresh, describing Satya’s journey at Microsoft, and how he was able to create the cultural change that has transformed the organization forever.
No matter the field you may be working in, the following lessons apply to anyone that is looking to lead people in creating change - whether big or small.
How To Be An Effective Leader
Being a leader can be great, but being an effective leader can make all the difference. Throughout Hit Refresh, Satya reflects on his leadership roles ranging from his time as a cricket player to when he was named CEO of Microsoft in 2014. Though these roles have all had something unique to teach Satya, the following advice were some of the universal lessons that he stayed true to, regardless of the positions he embarked.
Put Your Team First
To be a leader, it is not about putting yourself and your needs first. Your primary role is to bolster the confidence in the people you are leading and working together as one. By focusing on your team members more than yourself, it helps create unity and connection that can turn into greatness. Each team member has something valuable to add, and your job is to inspire that person to understand their value, using it to bring their best to their work.
Create Clarity To Those You Work With
Leaders are responsible for generating the energy that should expand beyond their team. The best way to create that energy is by being clear of expectations. These expectations are not just about the tasks required, but the values that are important for the team to succeed on. Doing so creates an opportunity to empathize and understand the values that inspire your team that can help towards implementing more optimism, creativity, and the shared commitment to help an organization thrive, regardless of the situation.
In Times Of Uncertainty And Intimidation, Compete Vigorously And With Passion
Tough challenges are inevitable as a leader, and it is essential to be a person that your team can look up to in those moments. It is in those moments that you have to empower your team through the passion that unites and connects everyone by “remembering your team’s why” and using it as a catalyst to overcome these challenges. This sense of trust and care allows teams to be more critical and reflective in overcoming whatever problems arise, and not the other way around.
How To Create A Growth Mindset At Work
A growth mindset is the understanding that skills and abilities are not innate, but rather something that can be developed over time through practice and care. One of the biggest lessons that Satya Nadella has instilled in Microsoft’s culture was the importance of embracing a growth mindset so that the organization can adopt a lifestyle of learning and development. It is one of the biggest reasons why Microsoft has continued to grow as an organization, and it is something we can all implement.
Interested in growth mindset? Learn more about it here:
The following advice from Satya looks at how to implement a growth mindset in the workplace (which can also be applied in non-professional settings too).
Develop Empathy
By being able to understand and share the feelings of other individuals, it can help create a greater perspective on life with the idea that we are all working towards something. Many people (myself included) can be guilty of being caught up in perfection and comparison, which takes time away from appreciating and embracing who we are. When we understand that we have the power to be who we truly want to be, it allows us to take more risks and embrace the journey of learning and trying - adopting that growth mindset.
Actively Seek Diversity And Inclusion
Beyond understanding and developing empathy, it is vital to interact and engage with as many diverse people as possible. Everyone has a story to tell, and by listening and understanding to as many people as possible, it creates inspiration towards how we might overcome our challenges while doing the same for them. This active search for diversity and inclusion can help us be less ignorant of the world, deeply unite with one another, and spark more creativity. We are all trying to live meaningful lives, and by being truly connected, it allows everyone to appreciate changes more openly.
Build Trust
Building trust is so crucial in creating a culture where growth can be embraced. Psychological safety cannot occur when there is mistrust, reducing the willingness to embrace growth. It is important to practice being respectful, understanding, and transparent in our interactions so that trust develops. By doing so, people can build credibility and context in their teams, leading to more growth, curiosity, and change.
Final Thoughts
In the last few pages of Hit Refresh, Satya shared a quote that touched me that I want to share. He said, “Knowledge is power, knowledge is growth, and it’s cumulative. It’s the most cumulative thing, because the more you know about yourself, the better prepared you will be for a changing, difficult world.”
We as human beings are on a constant journey to find ourselves, and that road is never easy. However, it’s a road we all can and should embrace. I hope Satya’s advice on leadership and change has inspired you to take that journey and inspire others to take that journey with you.
Here is also our favourite video of Satya on the power of learning and why we must never stop educating ourselves towards progress:
Good Stuff! growth mindset was a book written by Carol Dweck. It would be good to quote her!