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Leadership in 2024 wasn’t easy as leaders faced unrelenting economic pressures, hybrid work hurdles, and the rapid-fire evolution of AI. But 2025 promises to be even tougher. The demands on leaders are only growing, and the ones who succeed won’t just adapt—they’ll thrive by staying ahead of the curve. If you’re a leader looking to level up your game, this article is your roadmap.
In this episode of Future Ready Leadership, we gathered three top leadership insights into one powerhouse discussion, drawing from the expertise of Guy Kawasaki, Dr. Amy Edmondson, and John R. Miles. This episode tackles three pivotal topics: building resilience and a growth mindset, fostering psychological safety while learning from intelligent failures, and creating intentional leadership through mindset and behavior shifts. Find out the actionable strategies you can implement today to lead with confidence in 2025.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
Resilience and the Growth Mindset: Guy Kawasaki’s Leadership Secret
Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva and former Apple evangelist, emphasizes that effective leadership is built on Growth, Grit, and Grace. Growth, in particular, is a cornerstone for impactful leadership. It involves embracing continuous learning and self-improvement, striving to be a better leader each day.
A growth mindset empowers leaders to foster environments where teams feel encouraged to experiment and learn, even in the face of failure. This mindset builds resilience, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth while inspiring others to thrive. Guy himself exemplifies this by continuously challenging himself, such as learning ice hockey and surfing later in life, to sharpen his growth mindset.
For leaders, fostering a growth mindset starts with small, intentional actions. Guy advises focusing on manageable, incremental goals rather than attempting to transform everything at once. These small, deliberate steps not only make progress more achievable but also reinforce resilience by creating opportunities for quick wins. Over time, these wins build momentum and help establish a culture where continuous learning, experimentation, and innovation thrive.
Psychological Safety and Intelligent Failure: Dr. Amy Edmondson’s Game-Changer
Failure is a powerful teacher, and no one understands this better than Dr. Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School and author of The Fearless Organization and The Right Kind of Wrong.
Dr. Amy emphasizes that not all failures are created equal. She distinguishes between basic failures (avoidable mistakes), complex failures (multi-causal breakdowns), and intelligent failures (calculated risks taken in pursuit of growth). “The real learning,” she explains, “comes from intelligent failures—the ones that help us uncover new insights and push boundaries.”
To truly unlock the value of intelligent failures, Dr. Amy argues, organizations must cultivate psychological safety. “Psychological safety describes an environment where people feel confident they can take the interpersonal risks of learning, speaking up, and admitting mistakes,” she explains. This environment allows teams to analyze failures openly and extract valuable lessons without fear of blame.
According to Dr. Amy, leaders can create psychological safety by building trust by modeling vulnerability and setting the example that it’s okay to make mistakes—as long as you learn from them. This not only strengthens collaboration but also fosters innovation by encouraging employees to take smart risks without fear of blame, using failure as a springboard for progress.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
Intentional Leadership: John R. Miles on the Passion Struck Framework
John R. Miles, Founder and CEO of Passion Struck, believes the secret to leadership lies in living and leading with purpose. His four-pillar framework—mindset shifts, behavior shifts, deliberate action, and intrinsic motivation—is designed to help leaders cultivate their own potential while inspiring teams to do the same. “Purpose-driven living isn’t just about knowing where you’re going; it’s about aligning your actions with that purpose every day,” Miles explains.
A standout concept from his model is the Gardener Leader approach. Rather than micromanaging, leaders should act as cultivators, nurturing their team’s growth by creating an environment that fosters trust, autonomy, and collaboration.
“Conflict often arises from toxic influences, but the key to resolving it is compassion, not defensiveness,” he shares. Miles also emphasizes the importance of removing distractions—what he calls “mosquitoes”—that sap energy and focus. By eliminating these influences, leaders can align their actions with purpose and inspire their teams to do the same.
Why These Strategies Matter More Than Ever
As 2025 looms, the leadership landscape is only becoming more complex. Resilience, psychological safety, and intentionality, are essential skills leaders need to empower them to face the challenges ahead. The insights shared by Guy Kawasaki, Dr. Amy Edmondson, and John R. Miles provide a powerful toolkit for leaders looking to inspire their teams, innovate fearlessly, and lead with purpose.
Want to dive deeper into these strategies and hear directly from the experts? Listen to the full episode of Future Ready Leadership below and start preparing for your breakthrough year.
Listen to the episode here on Apple Podcast & leave a review!
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