Podcast: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?
Skip to content
Insight Unpacked Season 3: Can We Still Build a Green Economy? | Listen
Podcast: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?
Leadership Innovation Jan 17, 2020

Podcast: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?

On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn when you should—and shouldn’t—give your team room to fail.

Based on the research and insights of

Kieu-Trang Nguyen

Listening: Do Bosses Who Trust Their Employees Deliver More Innovation?
download
0:00 Skip back button Play Skip forward button 13:55

For leaders, deciding how much trust to place in the people you manage can be tricky. Give them too much leeway, and they might take advantage of you—but don’t give them enough, and they may not feel safe to take risks.

Trust can be especially high-stakes for those at the very top of the org chart, says Kieu-Trang Nguyen, an assistant professor of strategy at the Kellogg School. “I’ve seen a lot of quotes from people saying that the job of the CEO, for example, is to create an environment where people feel safe to experiment and fail,” she says.

But corporations are large, complex organizations. So just how much of a difference can a more trusting CEO really make? And how can you determine if more trust is what your organization really needs?

Note: The Insightful Leader is produced for the ear, and not meant to be read as a transcript. We encourage you to listen to the audio version above. However, a transcript of this episode is available here.

Featured Faculty

Previously a member of the Strategy Department faculty

Most Popular This Week
  1. 5 Traits That Set the Best Leaders Apart
    A former CEO and current executive coach discusses the tendencies of these high performers, including sharing credit and ignoring shiny objects.
  2. A Key Ingredient for Making Teams Soar
    A study of pilots breaks down rapport into several components—and identifies which is most important for effective teamwork.
  3. Building Wealth for Your Kids? These 4 Habits Can Help Prevent Entitlement
    Too many advantages can become a disadvantage.
  4. What a Legendary Winemaker Can Teach Us about Leadership
    A renowned viticulturist helped turn Portugal’s Douro Valley into one of the world’s great wine regions. His philosophy holds value beyond the vineyard.
  5. Looking Beyond Cash to Motivate Employees
    While many companies donate to win over consumers, research shows this approach can also motivate employees more effectively than cash incentives alone.
  6. Does GameStop Signal the End of Short Selling as We Know It?
    A conversation with a prominent short seller about the possible consequences of a wild week on Wall Street.
  7. Want More Voices to Be Heard? Turn Up the Warmth
    A study of business-school classrooms shows that even subtle behavioral cues can help people feel more comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas.
  8. When the Fog Rolls In, Do Leaders Need a Map or a Compass?
    Some moments call for a business plan, while others call for adaptability. Here’s how to know when to lean on one or the other.
  9. 5 Telltale Signs That a Photo Is AI-generated
    For one, scour for details that defy the laws of physics.
More in Leadership
2211 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
© Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
University. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.