Todd Pruzan, HBR
Welcome to HBR Video Quick Take. I’m Todd Pruzan, senior editor for research and special projects at the Harvard Business Review. Emerson, the global technology, software, and automation leader is not only accustomed to change; business thrives on it. The company’s recent strategic moves, ambitious commitments, and leadership evolution all reflect his focus on growth.
Today, I’m excited to talk with Lal Karsanbhai, Emerson’s president and CEO, about the importance of innovation, the value of surrounding yourself with the right people, and the power of purpose. Lal, thanks for coming today.
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
Thanks, Todd. It’s great to be here with you.
Todd Pruzan, HBR
Lal, when you think about your leadership style, what are the top three areas you want to focus on?
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
That’s a great question, Todd. I will answer that with what I believe is the most important role I have as CEO of Emerson, which is to nurture talent, our company’s ability to attract and retain the best. And with those things in mind, I’m thinking about three important dimensions of leadership.
The first is trust and empowerment. The second is accountability. And the third is inclusion. And together, the three create a culture that fosters innovation, that fosters people’s ability to perform tasks and create value.
Todd Pruzan, HBR
Nice. So, Lal, how have you developed as a leader in your role as CEO of Emerson?
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
Leadership is not about the individual. Leadership is about the team. And I firmly believe from a very young age, when I first managed, that it is important to surround oneself with the best, a team that is able to implement a very high level, to perform to a very high standard, but also where the summation of that team is greater than the sum of each individual.
Over 90% of the challenges Emerson faces every day I have not heard of. The team performed. The team executes. And that gives me a lot of time. It gives me time to think about strategy, to think about the portfolio, M&A, and, of course, the organization.
Todd Pruzan, HBR
Nice. That’s why it’s important to have the right team in place. Yes, like all difficult times, the pandemic time we live in shines the light on leaders and leadership. What have you learned in the last few years about yourself and about your approach to leadership and navigating change in these challenging times?
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
Yes, you’re right, Todd. We are living in unprecedented times, not only through the pandemic but now through the many social issues we have throughout society and the world. I think, to begin with, values are important. It is important for a company to set values and use them as the North Star for how we communicate and how we navigate challenges.
The second is that we must listen to the organization. Voices matter. We must be ready to debate. But listening is very important to the whole business.
And third, as we have learned many times today, is agility. We must be agile. We must be willing to think differently, challenge work processes, things we’ve done before, and adapt to our environment.
Todd Pruzan, HBR
That’s a great point. That’s a great point. We recently talked about how you navigate change and how you grow as a leader in your career. So just to sidestep that question, how do you stay consistent throughout your career?
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
A few things I can share with you, Todd. I am a strong leader. I’m tough. But I was always respectful—respectful of people, respectful of the organization. I don’t think that has changed.
Number two, I think it’s important for leaders not to delay decision making. It’s important to listen. But it’s important to pull the trigger. There are diminishing returns to information. And sometimes, it can be uncomfortable for leaders to make decisions with incomplete information. But an organization is better to have a decision that in the end, perhaps, can be corrected over time and to continue in one direction.
Third, above all, it is very important to stay true to the vision and strategy and for the organization as a whole to fulfill our purpose. And that purpose really drives the innovation that makes the world safer, healthier, smarter, and more sustainable.
Todd Pruzan, HBR
So, stay decisive, stay respectful, stay true to the vision, all good points. Lal, thank you so much for your conversation today and all your insights.
Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO
Thanks, Todd. Good to be with you.
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