Effie Brown has been an executive producer for 20 years and has made over 23 films and 200 pieces of digital content. Yet, when creating these films and managing teams of up to 100 people, a jarring reality hovered over her head – she didn’t really want to be a leader. In fact, when asked what does she identify with her response is often “I identify with the other.” However, she’s managed to use both the advantages and disadvantages of this identity to create her greatest works.
In this talk, Brown teaches us how to embrace being an outsider in our leadership roles. “Know thyself, know what lens you’re leading from, and the what and why of it all,” she says.
There are two main schools of thought on leadership. One school is the position on leadership – what our leaders are and do; things such as trait theory, behaviors, and situational. The other school is the support our leadership needs to be successful; communication, credibility, capability, capacity, and caring.
These two schools of thought are at opposing ends of the leadership spectrum.