Garry Schwartz, Mission Technologies’ chief operating officer, stressed the importance of empathetic leadership on Ben Fanning’s “Lead the Team” podcast.
“Trying to understand the underlying emotions behind someone’s stress is key to being able to figure out how to get them moving in the direction you want them to move,” he said in the Aug. 12 episode. “It’s a volunteer sport, right? Everybody is here because they want to be.”
Schwartz said he saw thoughtful leaders in action when he served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“The really great leaders figured out how not to transfer their risk, their concerns, their stress to others,” he said. “And when others were losing their heads, they literally just got quieter. They calmed down. It settled everybody down.”
The leadership lessons continued when he transitioned into the civilian workforce. “I’ve been in industry for 20 years,” he said, “and I think when I came out, what you recognize is you don’t wear your authority on your collar.”
Schwartz praised Mission Technologies for its focus on leadership training. “I’ll be honest,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen as much talk about leadership since I was back as a Marine officer. … We’re probably not alone, but it seems to resonate.”
“Lead the Team” is a top 2% podcast on Apple and Spotify. For more information, visit benfanning.com.
