UNLEASH World 2024: Dr Kirstin Ferguson calls on HR leaders to be more self-aware

Dr Kirstin Ferguson, award-winning leadership researcher, closed out UNLEASH World 2024 by asking the HR leaders in the audience to “put a mirror up to your own leadership”.

With an super engaging session, full of dog videos and clips from hit TV show Ted Lasso, Dr Ferguson asked the HR leaders to take the time for some self-reflection.

She stated that leadership is “simply a series of moments” – it is a “beautiful moment that offers us an opportunity to make an impact”.

Leaders make that impact “through the words we use, the choices we make”, as well as our behaviors, stated Dr Ferguson.

The world of HR is changing so rapidly – in fact, another UNLEASH World keynote, Peter Hinssen, terms it the ‘never normal’ – and that brings a lot of adjustment for leaders.

Dr Ferguson reminds them that what worked in the past, may not still be fit for purpose today. Instead, they need to have a rethink if they want to master the art of modern leadership.

A changing world needs a new model of leadership

For Ferguson, modern leadership requires individuals to find a balance between leading with their heart and leading with their head to master the art of modern leadership.

There are multiple key attributes, but Dr Ferguson pulled out three which are the most relevant to HR leadership.

One is curiosity – she joked that “saying that leaders need to be curious is like saying you need to breathe”.

And having perspective (and reading the room) as well is like a “chefs kiss”, it turbocharges that curiosity as it enables leaders to watch what competitors are doing and scan a few steps ahead.

“It’s an incredibly important attribute for HR leaders in particular.”

Curiosity and perspective are both ‘head’ attributes, but the ‘heart’ element that Dr Ferguson emphasized in her UNLEASH World keynote was self-awareness.

“Most of us in this room thing we’re self-aware”, but the data shows that only one in ten of employees agree.

How does that play out when you get feedback? It can offer trigger shame and embarrassment, but it shouldn’t, and the key here, according to Dr Ferguson, is figuring out your “word to wisdom” ratio (listen more than you talk).

She brought her session to a close by calling on HR leaders to take this message back to their organization.

This message of curiosity, perspective and self awareness is relevant for everyone – “we are all leaders, regardless of our position titles”.

“I don’t think we’ve been feeling a good enough job of reminding” people of that – whenever there are moments where individuals have an impact on others, that is leadership.