How to Inspire Others | Adam Galinsky | TEDxColumbiaUniversity

Summary

Adam Galinsky's TEDx talk at Columbia University dives into the 'leader amplification effect'—the way leaders' words and actions are magnified and deeply impact others. Through personal anecdotes, including memorable experiences with Nobel Laureate Danny Kahneman and a harrowing plane incident, Galinsky illustrates how leaders can either inspire or instill fear in their followers. He highlights the universal attributes of inspiring leaders and suggests leveraging these insights to empower and encourage those with less power. Ultimately, the talk encourages reflection and continuous improvement to become more inspiring leaders, capable of transforming the world.

Highlights

• Danny Kahneman’s feedback illustrates the impact of powerful words. 🗨️
• A tense flight experience shows how silence can amplify fear. ✈️
• The story of an inspiring coach in a cave crisis highlights visionary leadership. 🏞️
• Tammy Jo Shults’ calmness during a flight emergency inspired passengers. ✈️
• Galinsky emphasizes the transformative potential of the leader amplification effect. ✨

Key Takeaways

• Leadership amplifies your words and actions, impacting others significantly. 🎤
• Inspirational leadership is universal, recognized across cultures. 🌍
• Reflection on past leadership experiences can improve future effectiveness. 🔄
• Providing purpose and reassurance can inspire and calm teams. 👍
• Even small changes in leadership approach can have a big impact. 📈

Overview

In his TEDx talk, Adam Galinsky explores the 'leader amplification effect,' the fascinating phenomenon where leaders' words and actions are magnified, leaving a deep impact on their followers—either positively or negatively. He recounts his own experiences with renowned economist Danny Kahneman, illustrating how simple comments can either crush or uplift an individual, highlighting the significant influence leaders hold.

Galinsky shares dramatic stories, such as a terrifying flight experience where silence from the pilots amplified passenger fear. In stark contrast, he details how calming words from Tammy Jo Shults during an in-flight emergency changed panic into possibility. These anecdotes underline the critical role leaders play in shaping the atmosphere and morale of any situation.

Rooted in research, Galinsky identifies three universal attributes of inspiring leaders: being visionary, exemplifying desired behaviors, and serving as mentors. He concludes by advocating for continuous self-reflection and commitment to these principles, urging everyone to harness the leader amplification effect to inspire others and drive positive change globally.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:30: Introduction and Personal Story The chapter titled 'Introduction and Personal Story' begins with a personal anecdote from the narrator during their first day in a doctoral program at Prince University. The narrator expresses feelings of nervousness and intimidation due to the presence of 11 other intellectually capable students but also conveys an eagerness to belong and prove themselves. The narrator attended their first class with Danny Kahneman, who is notable for winning a Nobel Prize in Economics. The chapter captures the narrator's initial experience and emotions in an academic environment with prominent figures.
• 01:30 - 04:30: Leader Amplification Effect The chapter titled 'Leader Amplification Effect' explores a personal narrative where the author recounts a significant moment from their past. In a classroom setting, the author attempts to contribute by raising a point they believe to be insightful. However, the response from the teacher, Danny, is dismissive as he crosses his arms, shakes his head, and bluntly declares 'that's not right at all.' While the class moves forward, the author remains mentally stuck, haunted by Danny's words which continued to echo long after the incident. This moment is used to illustrate the impact of authoritative feedback and how it can amplify and resonate within individuals, affecting their confidence and perception long term.
• 04:30 - 13:00: Visionary Leadership The chapter titled 'Visionary Leadership' begins with a personal anecdote illustrating the impact of encouragement and recognition on personal development. The author, initially shy and reserved, recounts an experience in a class led by a teacher named Danny. Despite struggling to speak in class, the author receives unexpected praise from Danny, who commends their reflective writing. This encouragement fills the author with joy and boosts their confidence, highlighting the power of positive reinforcement. This narrative sets the stage for discussing the broader theme of visionary leadership, suggesting that true leaders inspire and uplift others through recognition and support.
• 13:00 - 17:00: Exemplar Leadership The chapter 'Exemplar Leadership' discusses the 'leader amplification effect,' which is the concept that in leadership roles, a person's expressions, words, and behaviors are significantly amplified. This means that the impact of a leader's actions and words is heightened, whether they are positive or negative. The chapter describes a personal anecdote where seemingly inconsequential comments made by a leader had a profound emotional impact on the narrator, demonstrating the power and influence leaders have on those around them.
• 17:00 - 21:00: The Role of Mentorship This chapter titled 'The Role of Mentorship' discusses two key themes: the leader amplification effect and its positive potential. It emphasizes that the influence of a leader can have significant effects, and these effects can be harnessed to inspire and create change. An example given is the urgency and impact of communication, demonstrated through a scenario where a friend sends a message saying, 'I need to talk to you now.' This symbolizes the immediacy and importance of mentorship and leadership in effecting change.
• 21:00 - 28:30: Practical Applications of Inspiring Leadership The chapter explores the 'leader amplification effect,' where words from leaders, such as bosses, carry significant weight and can be interpreted with varying impacts depending on the context. The author shares a personal anecdote from when they were a young assistant professor, highlighting how words can seem ominous or portentous depending on who says them. The role of perceived authority and its influence on interpretation is emphasized.

How to Inspire Others | Adam Galinsky | TEDxColumbiaUniversity Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 when I sat down for the first class in my doctoral program I was so nervous kind of like I am right now uh there are 11 new students in the PHD program at Prince University and I was intimidated by their brain power but I was also eager to prove that I belonged now that first class was with a man named Danny conoman who would one day win the Nobel prize in economics about an hour into
• 00:30 - 01:00 that class I saw an opportunity to say something insightful and I eagerly raised my hand I still remember 30 years later the exact transformation in Danny's demeanor he crossed his arms he shook his head he Strunk of his face and he said that's not right at all now Danny in the class moved on but I didn't I was frozen in place those words that's not right at all were ver rated inside
• 01:00 - 01:30 of me it would take me weeks to speak in Danny's class let alone any class however about halfway through the semester Danny passed me the hallway and nonchalantly said hey Adam I love reading your reflection papers you're a great writer I was filled with so much joy and Elation I literally skipped down the hallway now these two very different Danny conman stories actually represent the exact same phenomenon what I call
• 01:30 - 02:00 the leader amplification effect when you are in a position of leadership all of your Expressions all of your words good and bad get Amplified when you have power when you have authority your behavior matters more now Danny's comments were inconsequential to him but they were deeply impactful to me his dismissive comment felt like humiliating criticism but his compliment felt like Glory is
• 02:00 - 02:30 praise now these two Danny conoman stories also represent the two themes of this talk the first is that the leader amplification effect it's a really big deal the second is that we can actually use that for good we can use the leader amplification effect to inspire others and change the world here's another example of the leader amplification effect imagine getting this text from your friend I need to talk to you now
• 02:30 - 03:00 those words are a little ambiguous it's unclear whether it's good news or bad news or even involves you so you might worry but just a little bit but now imagine those same six words came from your boss right those words would literally scream off the page ominous and portentious now I came face to face with those six words and the leader amplification effect when I was a young assistant professor Now assistant professors have more power than doctoral students but less power than tenur
• 03:00 - 03:30 faculty members well one morning about 9:00 a.m. the elevator doors opened and I see Gail berer and I say Gail I need to talk to you come by my office at 3 p.m. so I was a little surprised when Gail came in my office and she was crouched in fear and I was particularly perplexed because I just wanted to go over some research materials with her but I was extremely befuddled with what she did next she slammed her fist on the table and said never do that to me again and I saidoh my god do what and she said never tell me you need to meet
• 03:30 - 04:00 with me without telling me why do you know how much work I got done the last 6 hours zero is Adam mad at me is someone else mad at me am I going to lose a resource now at first I thought Gail's neurotic turns out Gail is a little neurotic but the very next day the most powerful person in my department asked to meet with me and I walked in in the same fearful Crouch here's a final example of the leader amp amplification
• 04:00 - 04:30 effect plane is going from Denver to Montana it drops a th000 ft in 12 seconds a baby flies out of its mother's arms and miraculously lands in a nearby seat unharmed a flight attendant wasn't so lucky she went up so hard she hit her head was knocked unconscious and did not regain Consciousness for the rest of the flight however what happened next was remarkable so what happened next was
• 04:30 - 05:00 nothing the pilots never said a word my brother was on that flight and he talked about how terrified he was by the silence how he wondered if the plane had been injured or the pilots had been injured he described that silence as deafening silence now we get it right the pilots were dealing with the precipitous plummet and what they had to do about it but when leaders are silent followers fill the void with worst case
• 05:00 - 05:30 scenarios but it's not all bad news the leader amplification effect can be used for good that's what he learned with Danny Conan when he caused my joy to amplify with his compliment in fact it can be even used to inspire people on January 25th 2006 I plane landed at midnight in Los Angeles and I immediately knew something was up voicemail after voicemail carry
• 05:30 - 06:00 tired and wearied voices telling me to call them no matter how late when I called my twin brother back he told me the tragic news my dad had been hit by a car walking and killed as you can imagine I was devastated I was a mess the only saving grace is that my dad's only sibling lived in Los Angeles when I arrived at her doorstep at 1: a.m. we embraced in sorrow and Inc comfort and I plaintively
• 06:00 - 06:30 said to her can't believe I've lost my dad and she said we have all lost the dad I was his big sister but he was my dad those words we have all lost a dad stayed with me in the days that followed and I kept wondering why did they ring so true and then it hit me when my aunt was saying is my dad was a guy that helped her get through life but it wasn't just my dad
• 06:30 - 07:00 so many people his memorial service told me stories that echoed Danny Conan and the leader amplification effect they talked about his occasional but sharp criticism that lingered with them to this day but they also talked about his enormous passion and encouragement that continued to nourish them motivated by my dad's impact I started asking people all over the world to think about someone that inspired them I want you to the same thing right
• 07:00 - 07:30 now think about someone in your life that inspired you they could be a relative like my dad teacher like Danny Conan coach a boss a religious figure now I want you to think about what was that feeling of inspiration like people use words like light and bright and warm and they describe it as a Wellspring of Hope and possibility now try to pinpoint the cause of that feeling what was it about that person that inspired
• 07:30 - 08:00 you what was that exact characteristic or attribute now I want you to think about a different type of leader someone who also changed you inside but this time they infuriated you right they made your blood boil they created a seething cauldron of rage and resentment what was it about that person that infuriated you now I've asked this questions of tens of thousands of people across the the globe
• 08:00 - 08:30 and my research has led to three insights first the inspiring leader and the infuriating leader are mirror images of each other they exist on an enduring Continuum inspiring leaders see the big picture furing leaders are lost in the weeds inspiring leaders are courageous infuriating leaders are cowardly inspiring leaders are generous infuriating leaders are selfish the second Insight is that the inspir Ing and inuring Continuum is
• 08:30 - 09:00 universal every single attribute used to describe an inspiring leader in one country is used in every country in the world and third I can take all of these thousands of examples and reduce them to a few core factors now to reveal those factors I'm going to tell you about an amazing Captain named Tammy Joe Schultz she was Captain of Southwest flight 1380 as it took off from New York City down to
• 09:00 - 09:30 Dallas Texas and partway through the flight an engine exploded on the left side of the plane and tore a hole in the side of the plane planes started to descent Tammy Joe gave her passengers a reassuring why she said we are not going down we are going to Philadelphia those simple words transform the happen from pure panic to
• 09:30 - 10:00 possibility now when she amazingly landed the plane with no more injuries she was being evaluated by an EMT who said to her hey how did you get through security she was a little confused he said how did your nerves of Steel not set off the metal detectors you're completely calm now before Tammy Joe left that plane she went row by row and checked in on each and every passenger to to make sure they were okay unlike the pilots on
• 10:00 - 10:30 my brother's flight she understood her role as both protector but also comforter so tby Joe Schultz the story reveals the three elements of an inspiring leader they are Visionary they are an Exemplar and they are a great mentor I call these the themm diagram of inspiring leadership and to inspire others we can do that through our words through our actions and through our
• 10:30 - 11:00 interactions now this example also shows us the leader amplification effect right because of her position as Captain and Authority her behavior mattered more let's go through each one of these factors what does it mean to be Visionary well let me ask you a different question raise your hand if you have kids so those of you have kids know a simple fact your life gets worse when you have kids right you rarely sleep you barely
• 11:00 - 11:30 eat you seldom shower you never have sex your house is a mess your body is a mess your mind is a mess and yet our our species hasn't died off why well if you ask new parents about their experience they often say my life has a new found sense of purpose a new sense of meaning now this link between meaning and Parenthood tells us something fundamental about human nature regardless of whether you have kids or
• 11:30 - 12:00 not we are biologically conditioned to Crave meaning consider this quote from n people who have a why to live can bear almost any howow we quave a why but not just any Why We crave an optimistic why one full of Hope and possibility like the one Tammy Joe Schultz gave her passengers as they were descending a few years ago a soccer coach took his team
• 12:00 - 12:30 to explore some caves in Thailand when they went in it was a sunny afternoon and unknown to them a sudden and monstrous storm was about to descend upon them and that storm would produce so much water so quickly that would flood the cave and it would trap them and it would trap them for 10 days with no food no water and no way to crawl for help how on Earth did they survive their Coach inspired ired them to survive it started with his vision he
• 12:30 - 13:00 never used the word trapped or stuck he knew that would only amplify their Panic instead every single day he said I have a plan to keep you safe and to get you out as one boy said because coach eek said we had a way out we worked every day on getting out inspiring leader is an Exemplar of desired behavior let's look at these two photographs of two commanders leading leading their countries towards
• 13:00 - 13:30 independence the American hero George Washington and the Greek heroin bubalina now they're very different on every possible Dimension right different genders different countries different centuries different ages but they were remarkably similar right where is their boat it's the lead boat where are they in that boat they in the front of the boat what are they doing they're standing up in that boat they are taking on the most risk like Tammy Joe Schultz
• 13:30 - 14:00 they are calm and courageous in the face of adversity inspiring leaders are also authentically passionate when you are passionate when you genuinely feel passion it transforms you transforms your eyes transforms your mouth your hands your voice even but it doesn't just transform you it also transforms others because passion like calmness and anxiety is
• 14:00 - 14:30 contagious but the leader amplification effect makes it truly infectious your calmness becomes their calmness your anxiety becomes their anxiety your passion becomes their passion coach eek understood that in this situation his strength was their strength now the situation would get to him he would feel overwhelmed and he would need to cry but he always did it privately because in this situation he knew that his weakness would only
• 14:30 - 15:00 amplify their Panic the final element of an inspiring leader is a great mentor and to help you understand what it means to be a great mentor I'm going to give you a physics problem what happens when you put force and pressure on an object what direction does it go in well when you put force and pressure on object it goes in the direction of the object this is my Dean de mlars putting force and pressure on this object and there it goes but let's change one word from this when you put
• 15:00 - 15:30 force and pressure on a person what direction they go in now my Dean puts force and pressure on me and I push back and this tells us something really really really important about human nature people aren't objects if people are objects leadership would be a physics problem but because people aren't objects leadership is a person problem and to inspire people we have to empower people we also need to comfort them kochek
• 15:30 - 16:00 understood this in the cave he would sing with his team to lift their mood and he would help them experience their pathos telling them whoever needs to cry let it out he also LED them in meditation and that meditation not only calmed them down actually allowed them to use the rapidly diminishing oxygen more efficiently in fact oxygen fell below life sustaining level levels and they still survived for a few more
• 16:00 - 16:30 days my three insights about inspiring leadership that inspiring and infuriating leaders exist on an enduring Continuum made up of three Universal factors has a profound implication for each and every one of you all of you have the potential to be inspiring and because there are a systematic and Universal set of attributes that make up an inspiring leader they can be taught
• 16:30 - 17:00 they can be developed and they can be nurtured and remember the leader amplification effect when you in a position of leadership all of these elements of being inspiring matter even more so how can you be more inspiring more than time well let's go back to my story about Gail right I said Gail I need to talk to you what if instead I said Gail let's review our research materials notice that would have cost me nothing they're both 13 words so when
• 17:00 - 17:30 you're in a position of authority commit to giving people a why let's go back to Danny Conan's compliment of my writing now caused my joy to expand look for ways to Leverage The Leader amplification effect complement those with less power for a job well done and let's go back to my brother on that flight and his silent Pilots after the fall versus hammy Joe Schultz reassuring passengers they're not going down they're going to
• 17:30 - 18:00 Philadelphia right offer reassurance when you see Panic rising in others each and every one of us in this room can be a Tammy Joe Schultz a cooche or my dad we can use the leader amplification effect for good we can all be a more inspiring version of ourselves so how do we do that well it starts with reflection once a month you should reflect on when you were inspiring but
• 18:00 - 18:30 also when you weren't inspiring when weren't you seeing the big picture offering meaning when weren't you courageous or calm when weren't you empowering or comforting others next make a commitment even a small one to being a little bit more Visionary a better Exemplar and more supportive the next month and if you can weave these periodic Reflections and commitments into the daily fabric of your life you will inspire others and transform
• 18:30 - 19:00 the world