13 | Chris Gardner|Managing Diversity and The Real Role of a CEO In a Progressive Organization
Summary:
Chris Gardner is the CEO of Sequence Bio and he has some thoughts on diversity, remote working, and conflict management to share with Jess.
Based in Newfoundland, Sequence Bio is a data-driven biotechnology company. They’re doing cutting-edge work, not just in their day-to-day operations, but also in their smart and scientific HR practices.
Jess recently placed a high-ranking executive at Sequence Bio and he was totally blown away by their emphasis on understanding people and psychology. In today’s show, you’ll get a peek into Sequence Bio’s workplace and learn about their best practices.
The first theme touched upon is diversity. When Chris had everyone in his organization take DISC assessments, he was surprised by the diversity he found among his team. He greatly credits this diversity for his team’s spectacular performance. However, he quickly discovered that managing these differences requires both intent and structure.
As an experienced business leader, Chris emphasizes the importance of servant leadership. He reveals that, as CEO, he’s primarily responsible for facilitation and risk mitigation. It is not the CEO’s job to “carry the ball across the line.” Rather, you need to accept your weaknesses and delegate tasks to a team member with the right skillset.
We discuss the importance of creating a safe space for “good” conflicts, along with some nuanced tips for building a team culture in a remote environment.
Enjoy!
What You Will Learn In This Show:
- Things that have helped Chris in his development journey as a CEO.
- The importance of creating safe spaces for “good” conflicts.
- The concept of “servant leadership” and the role of a CEO in an organization.
- Why you need to leverage diversity with intent and structure.
- And so much more…
Quotes:
“A lot of people think CEOs are the quarterback on the field in football. And that’s the wrong way to think about it. The CEO is actually the head coach.”
“I think the process of introducing some of these psychological frameworks in the workplace allows you to understand someone else’s perspective.”
“As a senior leader, your job is to remove the blocks and help people find their own way rather than being the one that carries the ball and does everything yourself.”
Resources:
Listen NowPodcast Details
Duration
41:05 Minutes
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