Jeff Weiner is LinkedIn CEO.
He has a “97” employee approval rating and is a beloved CEO.
Here’s what you may not know - he leads from spiritual values.
His core message: Compassion.
When Jeff was 30, he read “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama.
It changed his life.
The teachings inspired Jeff to lead from Compassion.
Jeff shares, “Of all the management principles I have adopted over the years…there is one I aspire to live by more than any other…That principle is managing compassionately.”
According to Jeff:
Empathy is feeling what another feels.
Compassion is:
• Recognizing other’s pain
• Seeing the world through their perspective
• Doing your best to alleviate their suffering.
Here’s what you can learn from Jeff and Compassionate Leadership:
1/ Listen to understand
Early in Jeff’s career, he would barrage his team with questions.
He would “listen with intent to reply” instead of seeking to understand.
He realized his behavior was counterproductive, it shut people down.
Here’s Jeff’s new approach:
• Pause
• Observe his own thoughts
• Understand other’s hopes, fears, strengths and weaknesses
• Do everything possible to set the team up for success
2/ Build a culture of trust
A company’s long term value is based on the speed and quality of decision making.
That’s hard when people are navigating politics instead of focusing on the mission.
At LinkedIn, culture is based on compassion.
Here are the key ingredients:
• Take time to understand other’s perspectives
• Don’t assume malice
• Build trust with others
• Align around shared mission
This culture helps LinkedIn make decisions swiftly and decisively.
“Create the right culture, and you create a competitive advantage.”
3/ Don’t just focus on the what, focus on the how
Jeff believes strongly in thinking beyond shareholder value.
And considering the unintended impact of company actions.
“We need to increasingly put ourselves in the shoes of those on the receiving end of new technologies — and those who might never benefit from them.”
According to Jeff, “it’s not just about what you’re trying to accomplish, it’s about how you’re trying to accomplish it.”
TL; DR:
Compassionate Leadership:
• Listen to understand
• Build a culture of trust
• Don't just focus on the what, focus on the how
Hi, I’m Tiffany May Yan Chan, and I work with extraordinary leaders on the spiritual path. When I’m not writing, I teach visionaries how to make wise decisions and take courageous action. If you’re interested, apply to work 1:1 and we’ll jump on a call and see if we’re a good fit.