TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett shares a simple yet profound leadership mantra: “Talk less, listen more.” Since becoming CEO three years ago, Duckett has instituted monthly “jam sessions” with small groups of employees, a practice she outlined on LinkedIn’s “This is Working” podcast. These intimate gatherings, dubbed “Coffee and T,” encourage open dialogue, focusing on shared commonalities within the group, whether by job title or experience. Duckett, a 2024 CNBC Changemaker, leverages these sessions to understand employees’ impressions, progress, and areas of inefficiency at TIAA. To foster candidness, she routinely asks employees what they would change if they were CEO, a question that builds immediate connection and enhances her awareness of employee perspectives. This approach aims to create a culture where staff feel “heard without judgment,” which is supported by research indicating that such environments boost engagement, performance, and retention.
Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller commends Duckett’s strategy, highlighting how it fosters trust—a crucial factor for a thriving workforce. Although effective, Fuller cautions that leaders must weigh employee feedback carefully, as not all suggestions are practical or free from self-interest. Duckett advocates for this strategy among her peers, noting its critical role in fostering a positive organizational culture. As Duckett emphasized on LinkedIn, engaging with employees can significantly enhance workplace culture, though leaders should avoid over-committing to every piece of feedback.
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Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/21/the-no-1-question-this-fortune-500-ceo-always-asks-her-employees-to-be-a-better-boss.html
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