TED Talks have become a very integral part of the professional development world. Many business owners, social media influencers and educators vie for a spot on the TED stage in order to share their stories of success, triumph over adversity or some novel way that they see the world. When I'm searching for inspiration related to a specific subject matter like, "the future of higher ed", "connecting with students" or "professional development", I tend to type the letters T-E-D behind it just to be sure I find a great presentation that's both entertaining and engaging. For me, that's what TED offers, Ideas Worth Spreading. Below, I have compiled a list of some very inspirational TED talks as it relates to personal and professional leadership skills.
Simon Sinek's official title is Leadership Expert. He explores how leaders can inspire cooperation, trust and change. He's the author of the classic "Start With Why"; his latest book is "Leaders Eat Last." This TED talk taps into the leadership aspect in a way that it can be applied to both our personal and professional lives. Sinek discusses good leadership as a lifestyle and not merely a specific job description. Leadership can happen in many different ways but inspiring those around you to do their best has a much more viable lasting effect than manipulation or fear. This is a great tool for anyone who is considering their "why", and how knowing why you do anything you do can provide the clarity needed to make a real impact in any environment and institution we happen to be connected to.
Tim Harford is an Economics writer who studies complex systems. For this TED talk he shares his findings of a surprising link among the successful systems: they were primarily built through trial and error. Harford asks the audience to embrace our randomness and start making better mistakes. He purports that the more ideas we try the higher the likelihood of our success. He believes variation and selection boils down to trial and error. This idea can be applied to educational institutions, businesses, and economics. Harford discusses how trial and error should be taught in schools and should be the platform that most politicians run on. He believes humans benefit a great deal from admitting their own fallibility and ultimately ditching the God complex in order to create more successful systems.
Stanley McChrystal is a four-star general who shares what he learned about leadership throughout his 25-year career in the military. He begins by sharing a story about jumping out of a plane and how that moment impacted the way he feels leaders should conduct themselves. His focus is building shared purpose across different age groups and across various skillsets. McChrystal explains the value of listening and learning while always addressing the possibility of failure. His storytelling abilities tap into an almost campfire feeling. He's direct, personable and authentic, while educating the audience on specific ways to improve their leadership skills, which would ultimately improve the culture of their institutions.
As the COO of Facebook and author of the best-selling book, Lean-In, Sheryl Sandberg has dynamic insight on why there are so few women in leadership positions. She discusses how there is a negative correlation between likability and women leaders and how this might discourage many women from reaching for those high positions. This is a great TED talk for not only women who are looking to lead but for men who want to further understand the importance of female representation and its impact on future generations of women. The main takeaway is understanding our own biases when interacting with women leaders or women who are developing their careers to lead. Sandberg does a great job of outlining some of the common challenges women face in many institutions and how to address them.
Another great story-teller and renowned UCLA coach John Wooden shares his perspective on success and some especially profound tidbits of wisdom he received from his father. He shares a deep understanding for the importance of doing your personal best and not focusing your attention on doing better than others. This personable approach to success is attributed to his simple upbringing on a farm. He discusses his "golden" rules; "never be late, be neat and clean when you do show up, no profanity and never criticize a teammate". This is a simple but very reasonable approach to great leadership, while always operating under the premise that success is about much more than simply winning.
Jameelah Ra'oof MIS, MS
Coordinator of Teaching, Learning & Academic Excellence
Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)
Texas Woman's University
940.898.3427
Stoddard Hall - Room 305A
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