Ted Talks for Leadership
Enjoy GGA’s hand pick of TED talks to assist leaders and committee members with progressive thinking around common challenges faced within the Grower Group context.
The puzzle of motivation | Dan Pink |18 mins
Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with “traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think”. Listen for illuminating stories and maybe, a way forward.
How to make work-life balance work | Nigel Marsh |13 mins
Work-life balance is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. At TEDxSydney, Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity — and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen.
Breakthrough power of young leaders|Mohan Sivaloganathan|12 mins
Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a verb that requires action, says youth empowerment advocate Mohan Sivaloganathan. Drawing on his experience as the CEO of a nonprofit, he shares surprising lessons on adaptability and accountability, showing why truly effective leaders listen to the voice of younger generations.
How to disagree with respect — not hate|Spencer J.Cox|12 mins
Spencer J. Cox, Republican governor of the state of Utah in the United States, says that even in these deeply polarized times, it’s still possible to disagree without hate or contempt. He shows how this idea sparked a viral campaign ad he co-created with his Democratic political opponent back in 2020 — and shares four practical things every one of us can do to heal the divides in our nations and neighborhoods.
Listen, learn … then lead|Stanley McChrystal|15 mins
Four-star general Stanley McChrystal shares what he learned about leadership over his decades in the military. How can you build a sense of shared purpose among people of many ages and skill sets? By listening and learning — and addressing the possibility of failure.
Everyday Leadership|Drew Dudley|6 mins
We have all changed someone’s life — usually without even realizing it. In this funny talk, Drew Dudley calls on all of us to celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other’s lives.
The power of time off|Stefan Sagmeister|17 mins
Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a year long sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali.
The puzzle of motivation|Employee Management|18 mins
Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories – and maybe, a way forward.
Let Curiosity Lead|Leadership|12 mins
Don’t second-guess what “distracts” you, says actor-producer Yara Shahidi; that’s your curiosity coming through. The star of hit shows like “black-ish” and “grown-ish” tells how she learned to spot clues to her own future — and how you can, too.
How vulnerability makes you a better leader|Leadership|6 mins
As the founder of a startup, Tracy Young often worried that employees and investors valued male CEOs more — and that being a woman compromised her position as a leader. In this brave, personal talk, she gives an honest look at the constraints women face when trying to adapt to a male-dominated business culture — and shares how she developed the courage and vulnerability to lead as her complete, raw self.
A simple way to inspire your team|Workplace Culture|11 mins
Using paychecks, perks and carefully worded mission statements, companies are on a never-ending quest to find what drives morale at work. An underappreciated solution lies in the answer to one simple question, says management researcher David Burkus. With notable examples backed by decades of success, he presents a clear path to inspiring your team — and finding your purpose at work.
You don’t have to be a CEO to be a leader|Leadership|16 mins
Alex Budak has dedicated his life helping people finding their voice and step into their potential through micro-leadership. Removing the division, disempowerment, and discouragement from traditional leadership ideals he shares his three steps to help individuals unlock their leadership potential through moments to step up and serve others.
5 steps to fix any problem at work|Team building|12 mins
In a practical, playful talk, leadership visionary Anne Morriss reinvents the playbook for how to lead through change — with a radical, one-week plan to build trust and fix problems by following a step per day.
4 ways to make hybrid work better for everyone|Team relations themes|9 mins
This ‘The Way We Work’ TED episode focuses on the new way of work. So how can we as employers, employees and colleagues ensure we keep up the standard of ‘being awesome’ in person, remotely, and in a hybrid working enviornment? Tsedal Neeley has the answers.
The value of kindness at work |15 mins
Create a seat at the table for everyone and have the courage to establish kindness culture in the workplace. James Rhee shares why investing in goodwill as part of your organisational strategy can have returns on the balance sheet as well as the people and community you serve.
The power of purpose in business|Leadership|10 mins
What’s a company’s purpose? It’s not the same as mission or vision, which change when leadership changes. Strategist Ashley M. Grice explains the power of purpose to push boundaries of innovation and bring clarity to every aspect of an organization, from the top floor to the shop floor.
How to be a team player — without burning out| 6 mins | Rob Cross
Collaboration in the workplace is more important than ever — but it’s making us less productive in some ways. Here’s what collaboration pioneer Rob Cross says is driving us to take on way too much — and how we can reclaim our time and our peace of mind.
What are you willing to give up to change the way we work? | 13 mins | Martin Danoesastro
What does it take to build the fast, flexible, creative teams needed to challenge entrenched work culture? For transformation expert Martin Danoesastro, it all starts with one question: “What are you willing to give up?” He shares lessons learned from companies on both sides of the innovation wave on how to structure your organization so that people at all levels are empowered to make decisions fast and respond to change.
Great leadership is a network, not a hierarchy | 12 mins | Gitte Frederiksen
What if leadership at work wasn’t for a select few, but rather shared among many? Management consultant Gitte Frederiksen gives us the recipe for “distributed leadership” — dynamic, multidimensional networks of leaders that tap into everyone’s knowledge and creativity — and shows how it allows teams to do more and do it better.
How your brain responds to stories — and why they’re crucial for leaders
| 14 mins | Karen Eber
How do the world’s best leaders and visionaries earn trust? They don’t just present data — they also tell great stories. Leadership consultant Karen Eber demystifies what makes for effective storytelling and explains how anyone can harness it to create empathy and inspire action.
We need leaders who boldly champion inclusion | 15 mins | Diversity Themes
Are you an inclusion Rockstar in your organisation? No one group has a monopoly on talent or ability, rather there is an imbalanced monopoly on access and opportunity. Codes of familiarity have placed us here, but can we persevere through uncomfortable connection to enrich our workplaces and lives?
How to lead in the new era of employee activism | 16 mins | Leadership themes
What does it mean to lead in this new age of employee activism? Megan Reitz offers a four-point crash course on what employees want from their organizations and how leaders can rise to the challenge of building proactive and productive workplaces where every voice and perspective has the chance to make a difference.
The Power of Introverts – Leadership Themes | 19 min
Susan Cain presents a compelling case as to why introverts are vital team members and often better leaders as their manner allows others’ ideas to percolate through. Great information on how to embrace the value of introverts in our teams and even alter workplaces for independent thinking like introverts for optimum ideas generation.
How a “Hi Level” mindset helps you realize your potential | 13 mins | Leadership themes
What does it take to build a legacy? Hip-hop artist Cordae tells how he went from mixtape-dropping high school kid to Grammy-nominated music star whose “Hi Level” mindset helps him achieve his dreams.
How to make stress your friend | 14 min
You may want to watch this one twice. With 29 million views notched up, this entertaining and fascinating talk from US Health psychologist Kelly McGonigal will make you want to reframe the way you think about and respond to stress. Just trusting yourself daily that you will cope with life’s challenges could be the secret to avoiding death, literally.
The future of work – 3 tips for leaders | workplace trends | 12min
Workplace expert Debbie Lovich discusses shifts in the workplace sparked by the pandemic. Lovich gives three essential tips to leaders so employees can keep their autonomy (while remaining productive), so we can all reshape work to better fit our lives.
Why great leaders take humor seriously | 9 mins | Team relations themes
Lighten up. There’s a mistaken belief in today’s working world that leaders need to be serious all the time to be taken seriously. The research tells a different story.
Why play is essential for business l 11 min l Stretching imagination themes
Martin Reeves outlines how play in a business context can unlock ideas.
How to speak so people want to listen | Communication themes | 9 mins
Have you ever felt like you’re talking, but nobody is listening? Here’s Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to’s of powerful speaking.
5 ways to lead in an era of constant change l 13 min l Leadership & change
Organisational change expert Jim Hemerling outlines five imperatives, centered around putting people first, for turning company reorganization into an empowering, energizing task for all.
Conflicts of Interest | Governance themes | 5 mins
Dan Ariely highlights the blind spots around conflicts of interest.
How great leaders inspire action | Leadership themes | 17 mins
Simon Sinek highlights the power of “why” as a lever for inspired action.
Agree to Disagree? | Collaboration themes| 12 mins
Uncomfortable with conflict around thinking in your organisation? Could you reframe the conflict process as a fantastic collaborative thinking model? This insightful talk will completely pivot your perception of conflict to see it as a rich, valuable process for secure, productive work groups.
How to Build and Rebuild Trust? | Collaboration themes | 15.06 mins
The collaborative relationships we all depend on only function where there is trust. Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei gives a crash course in trust, how to build it, maintain it and rebuild it.
How do creative thinkers come up with great ideas? |15 mins
Are you providing room for diverse creative processes in your organisation? A humorous and compelling business case from the psychologist, author, and professor, Adam Grant explaining how last-minute concept formulation is a valid method for allowing the widest range of creative solutions in execution.
How to turn a group of strangers into a team | 13 mins
Watch this compelling case study for people working together for short periods. Relates to workgroups or committee context. The talk demonstrates people power when a combination of humility and curiosity is brought to the context of a challenge.
How diversity makes teams more innovative | 11 mins
A thought-provoking business case for diversity. Without a diverse & inclusive team innovation is challenging. Diversity includes many elements (gender, age, education, skillset, cultural, socio-economic etc), but even a shift in just one can be a game-changer.
Forget the pecking order at work | 15 mins
A captivating talk explaining how outstanding collaboration within groups is founded on social cohesion and a culture of helpfulness which triggers ideas to flow & grow. Great analogy to a scientific study on chickens thrown in here too!
How generational stereotypes hold us back at work | 11 mins
Watch until the end. Funny and insightful talk on letting go of generational stereotyping in the workplace. Age diversity relations present as a common challenge in our industry whether it be the next generation coming into the family enterprise or chasing a good age mix of volunteers on Grower Group committees that function together well.
3 ways to measure your adaptability | 6 mins
Move over IQ & EQ, meet AQ. Adaptability Quotient is a new term to consider. Unlearning is also a concept that seems like backtracking but is a key ingredient identified for innovation. Enjoy this 6 minute TED talk reflecting on the relevance of adaptability and unlearning in today’s Agricultural Industry mindset.