In our fifth Office Hours, we were joined by Vu Quan Nguyen Masse, Brand & Culture VP, ASEAN at Vero, who shared with us his first-hand experience of honing in on his values as a leader and walking the road less travelled in a culture that trusts compliance.
Office Hours is a 40-minute safe space for NewCampus Alumni to explore topics around leadership with industry experts.
Transformational leadership is a leadership style that focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to greater heights. It emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals, fostering creativity, and encouraging personal growth.
During the Office Hours session with Vu Quan, some thought-provoking insights emerged on how transformational leaders can bring out the best in themselves and their teams.
Here are some nuggets of wisdom from the conversation:
💡 Our uniqueness is our personality, embrace it - One of the fundamental principles of transformational leadership is acknowledging and embracing our uniqueness. As leaders, we often try to conform to certain predefined stereotypes or leadership archetypes. However, Vu Quan emphasizes that our true power lies in our authenticity. Each leader has a unique personality and set of skills that can positively impact their team and organization. By embracing our individuality, we create an environment where others feel comfortable doing the same. This encourages diversity of thought, leading to innovative solutions and a more inclusive workplace culture.
🍯 Be comfortable with your weakness - Traditional leadership often associates vulnerability with weakness. Acknowledging our weaknesses doesn't diminish our strength as leaders; instead, it humanizes us and fosters trust and empathy within the team. By being open about our challenges, we create a safe space for others to share their struggles, creating a culture of support and collaboration.
☑️ Don’t try to tick all the boxes - Trying to 'tick all the boxes' is an exhaustive and unsustainable approach. Transformational leaders should focus on their core strengths and delegate tasks that fall outside their expertise. By doing so, they not only play to their strengths but also empower their team members to grow and take on responsibilities, fostering a culture of shared leadership.
