Conversation with Claire Hughes Johnson — Building Great Teams, Managers, and Self-Awareness

Podcast Summary

• Empowering teams for success: Effective management involves automating tasks to reduce cognitive load and creating an inclusive environment for top talent to thrive.

  Effective management involves setting people up for success rather than trying to make them do your work to make yourself look good. This was a theme that emerged during a discussion on the future of work, specifically in relation to productivity and team management. Cal Newport, a professor and author, discussed the potential impact of AI on reducing the cognitive load of knowledge workers by automating administrative tasks. This could lead to significant productivity gains. Meanwhile, Claire Hughes Johnson, a corporate officer and adviser, spoke about the importance of DEI in team management and identifying top talent. Both guests emphasized the importance of creating an environment where people feel supported and empowered to succeed. By focusing on the needs and growth of your team, you can build a more productive and engaged workforce.

• Master your talent for financial security and passion: During your twenties, focus on mastering a talent, saving early, and diversifying investments for financial security and passion in your work.

  Focusing on finding your talent and developing mastery in it during your twenties can lead to financial security and passion for your work. The speaker, who has not always been financially secure despite earning a significant income, emphasizes the importance of discipline and being in the top 10% in a field with a high employment rate. He also suggests starting to save money early and investing in a diversified portfolio rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. The key is to establish mastery in something and let the accrued benefits fuel your passion for it. Additionally, he encourages starting to save early and developing a savings habit, as well as diversifying investments to minimize risk. The speaker's personal experiences and insights offer valuable advice for those seeking financial security and fulfillment in their careers.

• Building Wealth: A Long-Term Perspective: To build wealth, focus on living below your means, developing savings habits, recognizing the power of time and compound interest, and diversifying investments. Achieve financial security to prioritize deep relationships and personal growth.

  Building wealth requires a long-term perspective, living below your means, and consistent savings. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the power of time and compound interest, and avoiding the temptation to consume beyond your means. He also encourages developing a plan, mastering a talent, and diversifying investments. The ultimate goal is to achieve financial security, which will allow you to focus on deep and meaningful relationships. The process may be slow, but it is achievable with focus, discipline, and a commitment to living below your means. The speaker warns against the dangers of a consumer-driven economy and the importance of developing the savings muscle. In essence, the key to happiness lies in building a strong financial foundation, which will free up time and resources to focus on relationships and personal growth.

• Effective communication through visual means and self-awareness for leaders: Use Canva for professional visuals, practice self-awareness, acknowledge unstated problems, take calculated risks, and have a consistent operating system for managing complexity.

  Effective communication through visual means, like using Canva, can help professionals look good and get their points across efficiently. Claire Hughes Johnson, a corporate officer and advisor at Stripe and author of "Scaling People," emphasizes the importance of self-awareness for leaders and the need to build mutual awareness within teams. She also highlights the significance of acknowledging unstated problems and taking calculated risks in moving projects forward. Furthermore, Johnson distinguishes between leadership and management, emphasizing that both are essential skills for professionals, and suggests having a consistent operating system for managing complexity.

• Understanding the methods and structures for getting things done and recognizing self-awareness: Being self-aware and having a well-defined operating system are vital for personal and professional growth. Self-awareness can be learned, and recognizing its absence can lead to career advancement or a change in roles. Firing, when necessary, is essential for individual and organizational success.

  Having a well-defined operating system for achieving goals and being self-aware are crucial for individuals and organizations to function effectively. The operating system refers to the methods and structures put in place to get things done. Self-awareness, though not naturally present in everyone, is a skill that can be learned, and it's essential for understanding one's impact on others and the world around us. Those who struggle with self-awareness may be frustrated in the workplace, get defensive when receiving feedback, and have a distorted perception of their abilities. Identifying these signs can help initiate a conversation and potentially lead to career growth or a change in roles. Additionally, recognizing when someone is in the wrong job and having a trusted confidant to discuss these matters can be beneficial. While the concept of firing may have negative connotations, it's essential for the growth and success of both individuals and organizations.

• Direct conversations with underperforming employees: Managing underperforming employees requires more than just good coaching. Direct conversations and potential role changes may be necessary.

  While good management and coaching can be effective for employees in the middle performance range, it may not be sufficient for those performing poorly. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having direct conversations with underperforming employees and considering a change in roles or organizations if necessary. The speaker also draws an analogy between management and parenting, acknowledging that while managers can influence their employees' environment and set a high bar, they cannot change an employee's inherent abilities. The speaker shares their skepticism towards interviews as an accurate predictor of future performance and suggests focusing on the team environment and the manager's example instead.

• Thoughtful and systematic hiring approach: Clarify what you're testing for, use consistent tests, test for curiosity and learning, reference for insights, focus on top performers, and prioritize those who contribute positively.

  Hiring effectively requires a thoughtful and systematic approach. Contrary to popular belief, there is more science than art in hiring. It's essential to be clear about what you're testing for and use the same tests for multiple candidates. Pattern matching and data are your friends. Test for curiosity and learning, as those are the people who will continue to grow and improve. Referencing can provide valuable insights if you ask specific questions. Top performers make up only a small percentage of employees, and it's crucial to ensure the other 90% don't negatively impact the company. Women, in particular, were found to be outstanding performers in the speaker's experience, although this may not be politically correct to say. Overall, hiring is about finding people who can learn, grow, and contribute positively to the organization.

• The Importance of a Diverse Team: A diverse team with unique contributions is crucial for business success. Look beyond surface-level indicators to find individuals who challenge and bring different perspectives.

  Having a diverse team with a mix of skills, experiences, and thought processes is crucial for business success. Elite universities and individual sports achievements are just indicators of certain qualities, but they don't guarantee a good fit for a team. Diversity can stem from various factors, including brain chemistry, socioeconomic background, and gender. The best hires are often those who challenge us and bring different perspectives. While top talent is essential, relying solely on all-star players can lead to a less effective team. Scaling people means consistently delivering excellent work with a variety of individuals involved, and a balanced team of introverts and extroverts can lead to better outcomes. Ultimately, it's essential to look beyond surface-level indicators and consider the unique contributions each potential team member can bring to the table.

• Identifying the right role or career path for introverts: Self-awareness is crucial for introverts to identify strengths, weaknesses, and preferred work styles. Assessments and reflection can provide valuable insights. Consider tasks that give energy versus those that drain it, and the frequency of working with others versus independently.

  Understanding your personality type and work style is crucial for identifying the right role or career path, especially for introverts in the early stages of their careers. While introverts may excel in individual work, they also need to push their boundaries and share their thoughts with others to be noticed and contribute beyond their individual contributions. Self-awareness is key, and parents or mentors can help ask questions to help identify strengths, weaknesses, and preferred work styles. Work style assessments like MBTI, DISC, Insights Discovery, and Gallup StrengthsFinder can provide valuable insights. Ultimately, it's essential to consider what tasks give you energy and which ones drain it, and how often you work with others versus working independently. The goal is to identify the type of work that aligns with your personality and allows you to thrive.

• Individuals and corporations benefit from diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging: Diverse teams with inclusive management practices can perform up to 5 times better than homogeneous teams

  Both individuals and corporations can benefit greatly from embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. For individuals, recognizing where they naturally excel and building additional skills can lead to a successful career. This can be observed in group work settings, where individuals with different strengths and approaches can complement each other and lead to superior performance. For corporations, having a diverse team is crucial for success, but it's not enough to simply have a diverse workforce. Inclusive management practices, where differences are valued and individuals feel heard and respected, are essential for maximizing the potential of a diverse team. Research shows that inclusive teams can have up to 5 times the performance of homogeneous teams. It's important to remember that the words diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice have clear meanings and should not be used as labels or acronyms. Instead, let's focus on the principles behind these words and how they can be applied in our personal and professional lives to create more effective and successful teams. Ultimately, the goal should be to build better manager development and training, and to have leaders who understand the importance of inclusive practices for business results.

• Beyond visible traits: Embrace socioeconomic backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives: In the next decade, DEI efforts may shift towards skill-building for empathy, understanding, and bias recognition, while recognizing the importance of socioeconomic backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

  While visible characteristics play a role in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), they should not be the sole focus. Instead, we should acknowledge and value the complexities of individuals beyond their visible traits. This includes socioeconomic backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The goal should be to build a collective culture, fostering shared vision, goals, and belief in one another. In 5 to 10 years, DEI positions and departments may evolve, focusing more on development and skill-building for empathy, understanding, and bias recognition. The advice to a 25-year-old self would be to embrace differences, recognize biases, and invest in learning from diverse experiences. Ultimately, DEI is about creating an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and contribute.

• Regrets and Advice from a Corporate Officer: Identify unique advantages, seize opportunities, live intentionally, communicate deeply, and take risks early in life.

  Living life to the fullest and taking calculated risks at a young age are valuable experiences. Claire Hughes Johnson, a corporate officer and adviser at Stripe, shared her regrets and advice. She wished she had lived abroad earlier in her life and celebrated her younger self for taking risks and pursuing unconventional opportunities. Johnson encourages young people to identify their unique advantages and seize opportunities, as they have fewer obligations and fewer barriers to taking risks. Reflecting on her father's struggle with communication, she emphasized the importance of expressing emotions and sharing experiences with loved ones before it's too late. Overall, her message is to live intentionally, take risks, and communicate deeply with those around us.

• Reflecting on the importance of communication and connection: Consider what's important to express and prioritize communication and connection in our daily lives, while utilizing technology to manage time efficiently.

  It's important to consider what we would communicate if we were given a limited amount of time to do so. The speaker in the podcast imagines being given the chance to communicate freely for 30 days before being unable to do so again. This exercise encourages us to reflect on the importance of expressing ourselves and the things we value to those around us. It's a reminder to prioritize communication and connection in our daily lives, as we never know when we might lose the ability to do so. Additionally, the podcast episode also touches on the theme of time management and efficiency. The mention of Canva, an AI-powered design tool, highlights the potential for technology to help us get our work done faster and more efficiently. By utilizing such tools, we can save time and focus on other important aspects of our lives. Overall, the podcast episode encourages us to reflect on the importance of communication and connection, as well as the potential for technology to help us manage our time more effectively.