10+ Leadership TED Talks Every Leader Should Watch In 2022

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Leadership TED Talk

The ability to shape and sustain culture or create new structures and systems is on leaders. Being the leader we admire and strive to become must be an intentional journey of challenging the status quo, reimagining what's possible, and leading the way.

Here are 10 TED Talks about leadership to help you do that well.

1. Do schools kill creativity- Sir Ken Robinson

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. In this talk, discover the value of creativity and how to masterfully tell a story with self-deprecating humor.

Watch the TED Talk here.

2. The danger of a single story — @Chimamanda Adiche

Perspectives matter! Our lives, and our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Discover why it is essential to discover your voice and how to be more intentional about the different perspectives in the stories you tell and hear.

Watch the TED Talk here.

3. How great leaders inspire action — Simon Sinek

Leaders inspire action! Watch Simon Sinek's brilliant analogy of inspirational leadership starting with a golden circle and the question: "Why?" Sinek highlights a simple, practical, and decisive leadership model that everyone can quickly adapt.

Watch the TED Talk here.

4. How to manage for collective creativity — Linda Hill

"What's the secret to unlocking creativity in your daily work and giving every great idea a chance? Harvard professor Linda Hill, co-author of "Collective Genius," has studied some of the world's most creative companies to develop tools and tactics to keep great ideas flowing — from everyone in the company."

Watch the TED Talk here.

5. Lead like the great conductors — Itay Talgam

The goal of a conductor is similar to that of a leader - creating harmony without saying a word. "In this charming talk, Itay Talgam demonstrates the unique styles of six great 20th-century conductors, illustrating crucial lessons for all leaders." Discover the correlation between conducting a group of musicians with instruments and leading a group of people with ideas.

Watch the TED Talk here.

6. Listen, learn … then lead - Stan McChrystal

Insightful leadership insights from Four-star general Stanley McChrystal from his decades of military leadership. "How can you build a sense of shared purpose among people of many ages and skill sets? By listening and learning — and addressing the possibility of failure. McChrystal discusses how strong communication among a unit of people inspires purpose to achieve a shared goal."

Watch the TED Talk here.

7. What it takes to be a great leader — Roselinde Torres

"The world is full of leadership programs, but the best way to learn how to lead might be right under your nose. In this candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years of observing truly great leaders at work and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future."

Watch the TED Talk here.

8. Don't ask where I'm from; ask where I'm a local — Taiye S.

A recommended talk for anyone who is multi-cultural. An exciting approach to reframe the conversations on being a global citizen. "When someone asks you where you're from … do you sometimes not know how to answer? Writer Taiye Selasi speaks on behalf of "multi-local" people who feel at home in the town where they grew up, the city they live in now, and maybe another place or two."

Watch the TED Talk here.

9. Everyday leadership — Drew Dudley

Our interactions matter! Making time to connect with others is critical. "In this funny talk, Drew Dudley calls on us to celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other's lives." Discover the link between routine and becoming an effective leader in this talk.

Watch the TED Talk here.

10. What makes you special? — Mariana Atencio

This talk highlights the importance of knowing yourself and how to leverage your uniqueness purposefully. "When journalist Mariana Atencio was seven, her father sent her from her home in Venezuela to a summer camp in Brainerd, Minnesota. Unsurprisingly, she was treated like an outsider. But, over many more such camps and a senior year in an American high school, she discovered that the best way to belong was to embrace the qualities that made her different."

Watch the TED Talk here.

Honorable Mentions

1. Forget the pecking order at work — Margaret Heffernan

Organizations are often run according to "the superchicken model," where the value is placed on star employees who outperform others. And yet, this isn't what drives the most high-achieving teams. Instead, business leader Margaret Heffernan observes that social cohesion — built every coffee break, every time one team member asks another for help — leads to great results over time. It's a radical rethink of what drives us to do our best work and what it means to be a leader. Because as Heffernan points out: "Companies don't have ideas. Only people do."

Watch the TED Talk here.

2. How to get serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace — Janet M. Stovall, CDE

Imagine a workplace where people of all colors and races can climb every rung of the corporate ladder — and where the lessons we learn about diversity at work transform the things we do, think, and say outside the office. So how do we get there? In this candid talk, inclusion advocate Janet Stovall shares a three-part action plan for creating workplaces where people feel safe and expected to be their unassimilated, authentic selves.

Watch the TED Talk here.

4. The difference between winning and succeeding — John Wooden

With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk, he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry, and remembers his father's wisdom.

Watch the TED Talk here.

5. A life of purpose - Rick Warren

Pastor Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose-Driven Life," reflects on his crisis of purpose in the wake of his book's wild success. He explains his belief that God intends us to use our talents and influence to do good.

Watch the TED Talk here.

6. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable — Luvvie Ajayi Jones

When you find your voice, you must use it! "The speaker, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, isn't afraid to speak her mind or be the dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you. "Your silence serves no one," says the writer, activist, and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker. In this bright, uplifting talk, Ajayi Jones shares three questions to ask when teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down — and encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Watch the TED Talk here.

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A Hybrid leader: American-born, British Trained, and Nigerian Raised. Leadership Psychologist, Inclusion Strategist, and Executive Coach @?Korn Ferry?| Follow me on Twitter?Dr. Flo Falayi

Acknowledgment/Source — TED Talk:?https://www.ted.com/talks