For my lawyer friends, these days an LLM is not a legal diploma, it is a Large Language Model, with the one most of us are playing with (as it is in the public realm) being ChatGPT. Yesterday, I started daily posting again and wrote: “So, here I am, back again. am reminded by the likes of ChatGPT that there is much writing out there that is, well, bland and repetitive. I can’t promise not to be repetitive, but I will always look for new angles, new stories to anchor ideas that I share with you.”
Well, one topic I do keep coming back to is my core model of #OpenLeadership, one I have frequently been reminded of in working with leaders over the sixty-day writing hiatus I have just come back from.
Today, then, I’ll first share with you the answer given by ChatGPT to the question: “What is Open Leadership and what are the four core traits of an Open Leader?“, then give you some of my own thoughts, followed by a link to my core post on the topic, written over two years ago in February 2021 and being one of the “core insights” collection of five posts you can find at the base of any page on my site.
So, what did ChatGPT write?
Open Leadership is a management style that emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity in decision-making. Open leaders believe in the power of collaboration and actively seek out diverse perspectives to inform their decision-making. They prioritize empathy and understanding in their interactions with others and strive to create a culture of trust and respect. Open leadership is characterized by a commitment to transparency, collaboration, empathy, and inclusivity.
The four core traits of an Open Leader are:
- Transparency: Open leaders are transparent in their communication with their teams and stakeholders. They share information freely and are open about their decision-making process.
- Collaboration: Open leaders believe in the power of collaboration and actively seek out diverse perspectives to inform their decision-making. They value input from all team members and encourage open dialogue.
- Empathy: Open leaders prioritize empathy and understanding in their interactions with others. They take the time to listen and understand different viewpoints and seek to create a culture of trust and respect.
- Inclusivity: Open leaders value diversity and inclusivity in their teams and strive to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment. They actively seek out diverse perspectives and work to create opportunities for all team members to succeed.
Pretty good, but for me it misses a core point, being that leadership is in service of achieving something, and if that something isn’t a little bit brave, a little bit scary, a little bit challenging, then what is the need for and benefit of leadership? We need our leaders to be, as per the virtuous circle graphic above, Open and Humble (and yes, ChatGPT, those two traits include for me being Transparent, Collaborative, Empathic, and Inclusive), but we also need them to be Brave and Hungry.
If a leader is only Brave and Hungry without being Open and Humble, then this risks them being controlling and even toxic.
If, on the flip side, they are Open and Humble without being Brave and Hungry, then they can likely bring a group together, but may not achieve that much.
The power of #OpenLeadership, then, is in the combination of these two pairs of traits, being both Brave and Hungry and also Open and Humble.
That core post is “Are you ready for Open Leadership?“, within which I write of the four core traits:
Be Open.
You know our world is moving away from traditional hierarchies and you are dedicated to pioneering the way to a new, more open model of leadership.Be Humble.
Seven of the most powerful words in business are “I don’t know, what do you think?” Your role is no longer to have all the answers, but to create an environment where the right questions come forward with an energy that is open, lifts up your team, and draws out the best from them.Be Brave.
Bravery means you’re open to being uncomfortable, to stretching, as that’s where the growth lies. If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re playing it too safe. Bravery is a virtuous circle. When you embrace your full potential (discomfort and all). Your vision becomes clearer and your confidence increases, even in the face of uncertainty.Be Hungry.
You’re not hungry for more status, wealth, or corporate perks. You’re hungry to work to your full potential to make a difference in the world. You’re hungry for what’s next.
As I start back to daily writing to develop my thoughts and then share what I learn, I begin with thoughts on #OpenLeadership.
You’ve heard today what ChatGPT thinks and some of what I think. I’d love to hear from you.
Oh, and my podcast #WhatComesNextLive has also been “on pause” after more than 100 guests. If you’d like to develop your own thoughts in a thirty-minute conversation with me that we then share for others to listen to and learn from, let me know too!