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Are We Celebrating the Wrong Leaders? | Martin Gutmann | TED

We tend to celebrate leaders for their dramatic words and actions in times of crisis — but we often overlook truly great leaders who avoid the crisis to begin with. Historian Martin Gutmann challenges us to rethink what effective leadership actually looks like, drawing on lessons from the famed (but disaster-prone) explorer Ernest Shackleton. If…

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We tend to celebrate leaders for their dramatic words and actions in times of crisis — but we often overlook truly great leaders who avoid the crisis to begin with. Historian Martin Gutmann challenges us to rethink what effective leadership actually looks like, drawing on lessons from the famed (but disaster-prone) explorer Ernest Shackleton.

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95 Comments

95 Comments

  1. @off7970

    May 28, 2024 at 10:41 am

    This very much resonates with many Koreans at present. We are continually weighing the two wrong leadership figures, the current president and the current head of the opposition party.

  2. @ramstrong1961

    May 28, 2024 at 10:45 am

    Trust the Elites…lol yeah right!

  3. @frankknudsen842

    May 28, 2024 at 10:53 am

    With trust and known competence by his men & a faith in his leadership & after three failed attempts, he finally set of in a converted lifeboat & several men & after some 2 years came back to Elephant Island in August of16. Shackleton had convinced the Chilean government to lend him a steel ship and, returned five days later with every last man alive. All 22 members of the Endurance crew survived. Say what you want you gotta believe in that guy as he sailed off. ⛵️ that’s leadership.

  4. @sunnysideup33

    May 28, 2024 at 11:08 am

    It’s simpel and a bit boring. It’s all about the physical body. The god of our days. Skinny is intelligent! Bullshit. Loud is strong! Bullshit. Runinng around like a headless chicken is eficent! Nope. We don’t praise the brain. We think with our eyes. We are idiots.

  5. @gregolsen7102

    May 28, 2024 at 12:10 pm

    All about their connections!!! 🙁

  6. @wythkARE

    May 28, 2024 at 12:15 pm

    : *

  7. @dukeon

    May 28, 2024 at 12:26 pm

    This explains trump id!ots. Captains of crises indeed. Scrambling from one crisis to another. Pretending to work. Speaking all the time and saying nothing of substance. Getting stuck in the ice (or sand bunker). Media can’t stop talking about him, writing books about him. Sounds like the orange con man.

    Biden, quietly reducing inflation, adding jobs, keeping the stock market growing. Keeping NATO together for national security. Challenging China over Taiwan. Investing in infrastructure. Yep, boring 🥱. Vote for Blue in November. Let the USA boringly thrive.

  8. @jtr200747

    May 28, 2024 at 1:14 pm

    There’s no law of nature that requires leaders. Your assumption that we always need leaders to get things moving is so wrong. You draw up a picture of people that they don’t move at all if they are not lead. That’s so wrong.

  9. @RoskildeJonas

    May 28, 2024 at 1:24 pm

    It is tempting to draw a line to our western educational systems in which extraversion is plauded while introvertism is often problematized. It’s a deeply rooted cultural, and probably human, problem. Possibly a similar effect to Kahnemann&Tversky’s discoveries that lead to the psychological test used in the Israelian army, wherein some positively perceived features lead to people incorrectly attributing the same people with other positive features. Tall = intelligent, etc. You see the same thing in Dating and really all around you.

  10. @free_soul_human

    May 28, 2024 at 1:49 pm

    I feel weird as we have never heard of either of them in India.

  11. @minnick66

    May 28, 2024 at 2:13 pm

    Who is the “we” who perceives these false values? I think most people notice when they have bad leadership. The problem is in the comment you made in the end: “when you are in a position to reward leadership”. Worker’s aren’t in a position to do that. It’s other failed leaders who favor those who mirror their own values.

    They prop up one another. “We” don’t value those characteristics at all in leaders. Only the hiring manager & board of directors do.

  12. @nokoolaid

    May 28, 2024 at 3:04 pm

    Understand the dark triad and the relationship those in it have with the public/others. Great leaders score lower…James Fallon had something to say about this…So why was 28 seconds cut and it retitled and republished?

  13. @nccamsc

    May 28, 2024 at 3:04 pm

    More than 20 years ago, while working at Goldman Sachs in NYC, one morning I lost track of time at the treadmill in GS’s gym and when I turned around there was no one there except Goldman’s CEO Henry “Hank” Paulson, future Treasury Secretary of the US, burning a hole in my back with his stare. The guy looked like he wanted to beat me up, because I was still in the gym instead of sweating at my desk. That’s my story of the kind of people most of the world associates with “success” and “leadership”.

    • @maninthemirror9732

      May 28, 2024 at 5:51 pm

      Yeah! Its unbelievably depressing how much this current version of capitalism rewards the dark triad personality types!

  14. @ellenma970

    May 28, 2024 at 3:24 pm

    Don’t need leaders who are not doers.

  15. @leviefrauim1425

    May 28, 2024 at 3:26 pm

    Competency in leadership or management is an important aspect but no one wants to follow “boring” into battle. Humans want to be inspired, even if the leader is flawed.

    • @TwoDogsBigYard

      May 28, 2024 at 4:10 pm

      Being a Leader under harsh conditions is exhausting and people like to point out any mistake like they’d have done better, forgetting that you were successful when they would have failed. These are the sorts who do nothing and go nowhere, but tell everyone what they would have done while hiding from the danger.

  16. @MainstoneMedia

    May 28, 2024 at 3:32 pm

    But in offices full of people doing very little. People that seek out, create a maintain endless action and results do and should get noticed. Things move to quickly these days to pause, wait, endlessly study, plan etc. do something. Learn from in. Adjust course and repeat. Agile

  17. @QuickFactsTV94

    May 28, 2024 at 3:50 pm

    Inspirational and thought-provoking as always! TED Talks never fail to expand my mind.

  18. @sanj1631

    May 28, 2024 at 3:56 pm

    Amazing talk. Few examples popped in my head of poor leadership.

  19. @gustavoodysseytrance4ever706

    May 28, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    ‘We see leadership potential in people who:
    -Speak more regardless of what they say.
    -Appear confident regardless of competence.
    -Are perpetually busy regardless of what they’re doing.

    (Maaan, that’s going to my journal)😂

  20. @alvarodegaray3866

    May 28, 2024 at 4:23 pm

    I disagree, this is an over simplification at best. Of course we should celebrate a well planned and executed success story. However a story such as Shackleton’s is gripping and worth celebrating because life never actually goes according to plan and the parameters of success need to be redrawn. In Shackleton’s case the struggle to bring all his crew back alive is a great success considering all the elements against them. By all means celebrate Amudsen, but do not belittle what Shackleton accomplished.

  21. @DiscoverStuff

    May 28, 2024 at 4:50 pm

    This guy is too late. A.I. will take over soon

  22. @jojo-nh3yj

    May 28, 2024 at 5:08 pm

    Mich triggert, dass das l bei Berlin 90° gedreht ist. 🙃

  23. @xploradora8099

    May 28, 2024 at 5:49 pm

    Very thought provoking

  24. @chuchuman1163

    May 28, 2024 at 6:33 pm

    I liked what Martin Gutmann said in this Ted Talk. I thought it was very thought-provoking and facinating. 😮

  25. @homewall744

    May 28, 2024 at 8:13 pm

    We need leaders. But not to lead all, as a ruler does. A ruler is always pure evil.

  26. @iamAlTocino

    May 28, 2024 at 11:51 pm

    This is the best talk ever. Thank you for opening my eyes.

  27. @monicakochar

    May 29, 2024 at 12:05 am

    Interesting and thought provoking. I’ve personally gravitated to the quiet ones for their steadiness gives me a sense of safety.

  28. @EcomCarl

    May 29, 2024 at 2:16 am

    Martin call to redefine leadership is a reminder of the need for authenticity and effectiveness in leadership roles. By valuing quiet competence over charisma, we can create more sustainable and positive organizational cultures. 🔑

  29. @rudiedirkx

    May 29, 2024 at 4:01 am

    “He was born an illiterate slave.” I think we’re all born illiterate, and at some point we learn….

  30. @eklim2034

    May 29, 2024 at 4:20 am

    Good old boring truth

  31. @JuanCarlosDaSilva

    May 29, 2024 at 5:34 am

    I have been studying Stoic philosophy, Marcus Aurelius is one of the most famous exponents of this philosophy, he is considered the ideal ruler by many historians, however I have not found any documentary dedicated to his life. However, there are several documentaries about his son Commodus, who is considered one of the worst emperors of Rome.

  32. @sourisooo2434

    May 29, 2024 at 5:35 am

    There is a bias where more people believe in a fact more it is seems to be true from an external perspective. An extraordinary story is a good support to emulate this bias. Telling a story is also a way to indirectly take part of the story.

  33. @Ren-1979

    May 29, 2024 at 6:21 am

    This is sooo true.

  34. @bozhidarmihaylov

    May 29, 2024 at 6:21 am

    I’m a Victim!

  35. @hectorl7857

    May 29, 2024 at 7:56 am

    Maybe some of those quiet methodical leaders need to learn to be loud from time to time.

  36. @user-mm8vw1ow1x

    May 29, 2024 at 8:22 am

    Can we all agree to quit buying in to support evil and start buying in to support each other?

  37. @noushadmoideen5592

    May 29, 2024 at 9:06 am

    A classic example – Narendra Damodardas Modi.

  38. @benderthefourth3445

    May 29, 2024 at 10:30 am

    A first step is to NOT listening to them charlatans!

  39. @MLCommy

    May 29, 2024 at 10:49 am

    Elon Musk is a perfect example of this comment, “Our mistaken belief that the best leaders are those who generate the most noise, action, and sensational activity in the most dramatic circumstances.” He’s nothing but a showman who receives free press and is celebrated by people who, if they researched his “accomplishments,” would see he did near zero work.

    • @whywouldidisplaymyname7279

      May 29, 2024 at 10:56 am

      And Trump with his huge following

  40. @NhungNgoc-sv8wy

    May 29, 2024 at 11:43 am

    His premise is justified very much. I have seen the same scenario in all my project and even organizations. Some specific people who were perpetually busy, talk alot were admired unyieldingly by the others, and then were touted as the next leader regardless of what they actually do. This mistaken belief resulted in numerous problems and definitely final failures.

    • @BoBoZoBo

      May 29, 2024 at 1:16 pm

      The problem is what is the alternative. Leading requires communication, quiet people are not great leaders.

  41. @lucasmarques6053

    May 29, 2024 at 12:33 pm

    Anybody can be a leader. All leader can be a sucker. (Hitler and Mao Tse are examples)

  42. @sarthak6556

    May 29, 2024 at 12:50 pm

    World is busy celebrating women ☕ 😂😂😂😂 🗿

  43. @contecrayononpaper

    May 29, 2024 at 1:13 pm

    I’m not.

  44. @FriendofWigner

    May 29, 2024 at 3:03 pm

    I have used the comparison between Captain Kirk and Captain Picard. One charges head-first into danger and thinks he can change the laws of physics by force of will. The other delegates tasks, listens to his team, and does everything possible to avoid conflict whenever it is possible. While Kirk may be more fun to watch, Picard would be better to work for.

  45. @titusrider7948

    May 29, 2024 at 4:30 pm

    Some people are celebrating the Chump, so yeah !

  46. @jasonoliveira2149

    May 29, 2024 at 4:34 pm

    Beautifully communicated

  47. @Carlos72797

    May 29, 2024 at 5:31 pm

    I worked with someone that ascended the organization by building a reputation as a problem solver. They were able to solve many problems because they created many, many opportunities to do so. The problem preventers go unnoticed.

  48. @stephenframpton4616

    May 29, 2024 at 6:05 pm

    I’d wager Amundsen knew this as well, and didn’t overlook local help .

  49. @Cacuofa

    May 29, 2024 at 7:51 pm

    Disagree. Being the best at something doesn’t make one a leader. A leader has charisma, he doesn’t need to be the best at doing something. A good leader has the personality to be followed and it’s his job to listen to those who are the best at something and don’t have that spotlight, to comunícate to others what the best one said should be done. Steve jobs was a leader but he didn’t sit down and created the iPhone. Churchill was a leader and he didn’t go Rambo to war and kill nazis. The leader is the one who gets heard. Then decisions might be good or might be wrong, no leader wanted to choose a bad idea.

  50. @davepullin8572

    May 29, 2024 at 8:02 pm

    Is he talking about Elon Musk?

  51. @speedracermatt

    May 29, 2024 at 10:50 pm

    Well said.

  52. @charmerci

    May 29, 2024 at 11:18 pm

    In a world that now prizes entertainment, this is going to be a tough sell.

  53. @Vort_tm

    May 29, 2024 at 11:27 pm

    The paradox is that the best leaders don’t seek out the fame that you want to reward them with. You need the stage presence of Leader B and the competence of Leader A, and when there is money to be shamelessly made, you take Leader B’s money and tell him he’s special and send him out to ruin someone else’s life.

  54. @bilelazzez8856

    May 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm

    Think slow,
    act fast.

  55. @Shogun-pr4gh

    May 30, 2024 at 1:15 am

    “we see leadership potential in people who speak more regardless of what they say “😂

  56. @anglo-dutchsausage344

    May 30, 2024 at 2:16 am

    I keep feeling like this guy is just talking about UK politics, but everyone is Shackleton.

  57. @Muhammad_Cioran

    May 30, 2024 at 2:54 am

    2:41

    “I don’t know. Why ask me?” said most Indonesians.

  58. @sparkofcuriousity

    May 30, 2024 at 6:52 am

    Teachers tend to remember the “class clowns” while the best students often don’t leave a lasting impression on the memory.
    Class clowns make for “interesting” stories and memories. I much prefer to be of the “boring” variety.

  59. @AsdrubaleRossi

    May 30, 2024 at 9:02 am

    The problem is that the wrong leaders, seek recognition, while the right leaders don’t. We can be smart enough to be aware of our biases and fight against them, but the reality is that 90% of people will not, no matter how reasonable your argument is.
    Thanks anyway for this talk, I think it is right, and maybe we could improve a bit, but I don’t think we can improve much in this.

  60. @nereurochajr.3179

    May 30, 2024 at 9:04 am

    Perfect!!! Thanks for this amazing moment of reflection!

  61. @MrElvis1971

    May 30, 2024 at 9:29 am

    We hire bad leaders because the leader of leaders is bad and they cannot have someone outshine them

  62. @SungDaeHan

    May 30, 2024 at 9:59 am

    The benefits of effective communication extend beyond mere eloquence aimed at deceiving others. The true essence of professionalism lies not in the art of persuasive speech, but rather in a more profound understanding. However, if such an approach resonates with our preferences, it is worth noting that women possess an innate ability to navigate this intricate realm. Interacting with smooth talkers has become a regular occurrence for them. Or maybe not.

  63. @natalieeuley1734

    May 30, 2024 at 12:22 pm

    I was literally just talking to my bf this morning about how it’s weird that I never get nominated for anything or get any media attention when some of my friends who do arguably less impressive things do get media attention and nominations. The YT algorithm knows exactly what to give me at the right time sometimes

  64. @DRSmith8808

    May 30, 2024 at 3:44 pm

    If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s probably a terrible manager.

  65. @DMT4Dinner

    May 30, 2024 at 6:42 pm

    I thought the point in the beginning was going to be that the person who persevered failure after failure was the one who showed greater character

  66. @alexanderjames1103

    May 30, 2024 at 8:23 pm

    TOMORROWLAND🎉

  67. @maladaptedmalarkey

    May 30, 2024 at 8:41 pm

    Some of these comments… I can’t even. The guy is literally advocating for your favorite bosses: the ones that get out of your way, the ones that raise your profile on the back of your hard won wins, the ones that you actually appreciate. Or, maybe you like the pompous gas bags because they give you something to complain about. Who am I to judge?

  68. @bobk7218

    May 30, 2024 at 9:33 pm

    Yes we do… They get TED Talks!

  69. @ilyasafro321

    May 30, 2024 at 9:34 pm

    Burlesques stories are popular, but also inefficient. I tolerate them and sometime agree with it, but I don’t forget my first choice and first priority for efficiency and good leaders.

  70. @spinnetti

    May 30, 2024 at 9:51 pm

    I say this often in business. We celebrate the f-ups who cause the problems then work like dogs to recover. We never celebrate the real leaders who never have the big crisis, because they do it right the first time. Very frustrating to people who actually do a good job consistently.

  71. @dillonrohe4988

    May 31, 2024 at 12:20 am

    Oh boy… who do “candidate B” type of people remind you of? Three guesses – begins with :”do” and ends with “rump”

  72. @jurjenbos228

    May 31, 2024 at 1:48 am

    With the European election coming up, it is clear your message needs more attention.

  73. @mariosnic

    May 31, 2024 at 6:58 am

    This argument is no different to many aspects of life. The solution is for more people to learn how to apply critical thinking in order to view the world from a more realistic standpoint. There are lessons to learn from both sensationalism and achievement. Its a balance, but we tend to look at things in black and white. The more productive place to be is in the middle, the grey area is where the magic happens, its where life happens. Most things are not mutually exclusive, they can coexist.

  74. @and2244rew

    May 31, 2024 at 7:15 am

    This discussion is not complete without mention of Jack Welch. A man who damaged not just his own company but the entire US economy. Yet, is still remembered as an innovative leader.

  75. @donniepinns1472

    May 31, 2024 at 7:46 am

    Yeah, we only hear “problem solvers”. Why not “problem preventers” which sounds better, and which we’d need more.

  76. @AJ-kf4fc

    May 31, 2024 at 11:47 am

    I think this is a western way of thinking. When I interviewed in US, I was told I was very competent and had better credentials but did not come across as a leader as I was professional, well spoken but my mannerisms did not compare to other white male interviewees who were super boastful and therefore came across as leaders!! I realized then that so much of the interview process is biased by race, gender, mannerisms, bombastic proclamations of self than the content of one’s experiences!!When I interviewed with Asian companies, I could clearly see the difference where they were paying keen attention to the details of the experience than the selling of it! Superficial stuff matters a lot in US than actual substance! Case in point- Compare Microsoft under Steve Ballmer’s “leadership” vs how the company has been under Nadella’s time!

  77. @NishanthSalahudeen

    May 31, 2024 at 1:31 pm

    Well presented to make the case a convincing one. Basically saying that people who find themselves in the midst of crisis often are bad coz they didnt plan well and those who sail smooth often are the best since they planned well. And if crisis guys are promoted, then people game the system and create crisis to appear good. True. Lets say we promote smooth sailors. You think it cant be gamed? People will stop trying anything new and might result in failure. Thats a sure fire way to obsolete your organization. The moral is, both are wrong. World is not black and white. Need talent to identify talent and aptitude. Then there are talented pretenders too. Its a cat and mouse game. By the way, if one follows this logic, elon must should be fired coz he is always in crisis.

  78. @nusharifj

    June 1, 2024 at 4:58 am

    Narendra Modi VS Manmohan Singh

  79. @johnshafer7214

    June 1, 2024 at 6:58 am

    I witnessed a narcissistic millennial conman come into a business and nearly ran it into the ground. He basically was able to convince the owners to name his president and CEO by not holding him accountable for his actions. It got really toxic and most of us were cleaning up his mistakes and messes despite the fact he was praised by the owners.

    When he left, everything became better. Luckily, the son saw what this conman was doing and got rid of him. He believed in preventing major problems, not creating them. The conman millennial did was create unnecessary work and drama for us and gave lame excuses such as it would be too hard on his back. A 22 year old with back problems? Doubt it. A narcissistic conman? Yes, this guy was a narcissist who knew how to pull the wool over people’s eyes.

  80. @julienoak9312

    June 1, 2024 at 6:20 pm

    First time before or since I turned my back on all aspects of management that I’ve heard someone speak sense about management. Thank you Martin.

  81. @dm-heart

    June 1, 2024 at 9:48 pm

    11:00 & some people are imagining a rambling, blustery convicted felon who was once president & wants to be again. Followers because he’s loudmouth?

  82. @dm-heart

    June 1, 2024 at 9:51 pm

    12:10 convicted felon #45 is this: blustery, weirdly lurching from one drama to another in an environment of chaos & disaster. Catastrophic.

  83. @dm-heart

    June 1, 2024 at 9:56 pm

    13:23 Would like to see him in conversation w/Maggie Haberman. Sounds like he is literally describing Felon #45! Need to not give attention & disincentivize!

  84. @DavidHart

    June 1, 2024 at 10:04 pm

    I first heard Roald Amundsen’s story when I read the book ‘Great by Choice’ by Collins many years ago. He was an amazing man and became an inspiring figure in my own life and business. The main lesson I got can be summed up with the old adage ‘The more i prepare the luckier I get’. Great leaders meticulously prepare for every imaginable scenario.

  85. @MrBemnet1

    June 2, 2024 at 1:04 am

    What can a regulat person do to mitigate this trend?

  86. @user-ob7tt6ce3s

    June 2, 2024 at 6:12 am

    “6:48 That looks pretty easy.’
    Usain Bolt said, ” The work is behind scenes. Completion is an easy part.”

  87. @christerdehlin8866

    June 2, 2024 at 8:31 am

    I don’t wish to detract from the point of the talk, which is probably correct, but the discrepancy in fame between Shackleton and Amundsen is quite certainly a result of ethnocentrism. Brits may not remember Amundsen, but we Norwegians do, while you’d be hard pressed to find a living non-historian Norwegian who remembers Shackleton.

  88. @samplastik13

    June 2, 2024 at 11:22 am

    Interesting

  89. @fetB

    June 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm

    4:42 by whom. White people? WHat country is he talking about?

  90. @TIGERZY2K

    June 2, 2024 at 4:41 pm

    Thanks to fake news tabloids idol worshipping of crazy dictators have multiplied which leads to indecision among commoners while voting the leaders to power.

  91. @DavidSilverman-darktoad

    June 2, 2024 at 7:01 pm

    I love this. It is SOOOO true.

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