Romain Jourdan (@rjourdan.com)

#006 - Daryl Hammett - Leadership is not about the leader I approached Daryl Hammett (https://www.linkedin.com/in/darylhammett/) , GM of Global Demand and Operations at AWS, after reading an interview of him (https://aws.amazon.com/careers/life-at-aws-the-secret-to-building-world-class-teams/). Once I read it, I knew I wanted to have a conversation and learn from him. We never met nor worked together before. What Daryl shared in this paper resonated with me so strongly, that I had to talk to him, it was a no-brainer. And this discussion was trully mind blowing!🤯 In this episode, Daryl shared his inspiring insights on leadership. He began by emphasizing the importance of being present and engaged as a leader, actively listening to others, and being empathetic to their needs. He believes that being a successful leader is not just about having a vision or strategy, but being able to connect with people at a personal level and understand their motivations, aspirations, and challenges. Daryl also discussed the importance of accountability and building a culture of accountability within organizations. He believes that accountability starts with the leader, who should model accountability and follow up on agreements to set an example for their team. He also suggested that accountability should be a part of the organization's charter, with a focus on prioritizing simplicity and scalability in business processes and mechanisms. He recommended "Our Iceberg is Melting (https://amzn.to/44lheNI) " as a must-read book that encourages readers to embrace change and explore new environments. Moreover, Daryl emphasized the importance of being intentional in all aspects of leadership, including communication, decision-making, and goal-setting. He believes that leaders should be intentional in their actions and decisions, and constantly evolve to meet the needs of those around them. He also suggested that leaders should not be afraid to make tough decisions, even if they are uncomfortable or unpopular, as long as they align with the organization's goals and values. Overall, Daryl's advice emphasizes the importance of being a present and empathetic leader, modeling accountability, prioritizing simplicity and scalability, being intentional, and constantly evolving as a leader to meet the needs of those around you. His insights are a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and build a successful and sustainable organization. We talked about Disc assessment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment) and Hermann Whole Brain assessment. (https://www.mindtools.com/aoqzniy/herrmanns-whole-brain-model) Daryl also referred to the book The CEO Paradox (https://amzn.to/44o5fif). https://smartlink.ausha.co/the-pay-it-forward-society/006-daryl-hammett-leadership-is-not-about-the-leader