Share
We Are Human Leaders
Fixing Friction: Eliminating The Forces That Make Work Harder with Hayagreeva 'Huggy' Rao
Season 3, Ep. 41
•
In this conversation we unpack workplace Friction with Hayagreeva 'Huggy' Rao. Friction can be both good and bad in a workplace, knowing how to use it and how to eliminate it when it's doing harm is critical.
The Friction Project is the latest book by Huggy Rao and Bob Sutton and is The definitive guide to eliminating the forces that make it harder, more complicated, or downright impossible to get things done in organizations.
THE FRICTION PROJECT: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder is written by bestselling authors and Stanford professors Robert I. Sutton and Hayagreeva “Huggy” Rao. It presents a decade’s worth of research on what ought to be easy and what ought to be hard in organizations, and how to change things for the better. Based on their research, case studies, and hundreds of engagements with top companies, the authors reveal just how widespread this affliction is, and provide a roadmap for readers to take up the mantle and blaze a path out of the muck.
Our episode today with Huggy Rao unpacks this book and the incredible research conducted to help you discern between good and bad friction, and what to do about it.
Huggy Rao is the Atholl McBean professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Science, the Sociological Research Association, and the Academy of Management. He has written for Harvard Business Review, Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Market Rebels and coauthor of the bestselling Scaling Up Excellence.
Praise for The Friction Project:
“Sutton and Rao have given us a thousand gems, each an invaluable insight on its own, reinventing management as the art of ensuring that things get done as they should without unnecessary struggle. Marshalling the crucial insights from classic works, as well as from the very latest studies, they make a convincing case for friction as a vital focus and offer countless practical suggestions that you can apply in your work. I guarantee that their profoundly humane arguments will win your hearts, change your behavior, and transform your companies.”
—Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School, Author, Right kind of wrong: The science of failing well (Atria, 2023)
“I have found every place I’ve been to be filled with people who REALLY CARE about doing the right thing for the company. Sutton and Rao show how leaders who pay attention to friction - which kinds are
helpful and which are not—can equip these people with the right tools, build their trust, and make incredible progress as a result.”
— Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, former President of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios, and author of Creativity INC: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
More episodes
View all episodes
48. Survive, Reset, Thrive: Wise Strategy for Sustainable Success with Dr Rebecca Homkes
36:03What does it take to not only survive in business during volatile and uncertain times, which let’s face are almost constant conditions in our modern world, but actually thrive?In this conversation we’re unpacking the incredible research from Dr Rebecca Homkes, author of Survive, Reset and Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times.Rebecca’s work will have even the most experienced business strategists rethinking strategy and execution during volatility. Her SRT framework, an interconnected loop, gives businesses a new model to continue growth even through the most uncertain of times - and we’ve unpacked it for you in this conversation. Dr. Rebecca Homkes is high-growth strategy specialist and the founder of a boutique consultancy firm, advising CEOs and executive teams focused on growth and success through uncertainty. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School (LBS)’s Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at Boston Consulting Group University, and previous Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE)’s Centre for Economic Performance.Find the full shownotes at: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/survive-reset-thrive-rebecca-homkes47. Layoffs, Redundancies and Career Shifts: Navigating Challenging Changes with Leanne Elliott
39:47One of the most traumatic experiences we can have in the workplace is being made redundant. From one day to the next, your life drastically changes and you don’t have a say. Being made redundant raises all kinds of questions, as well as feelings like shock, anger and shame. Sometimes leaders handle redundancies well. More often, they don’t, making the process immeasurably harder for those on the receiving end.Redundancies are also complex for those who are left behind: you might feel survivors guilt – or the dread of not knowing if you’ll be next.If you’ve been made redundant you’re not alone. millions of people around the globe experience it every year, and rates have grown over the past 12 months in many countries.So, what can leaders do to minimise pain for those who leave? How can you ensure culture continuity for those who stay? And for the person who’s been made redundant, what steps can you take to heal, recover and get back into the drivers seat of you career?In this conversation we explore this with Leanne Elliott who is a Certified Business Psychologist, Consultant and Coach who builds workplaces that empower teams and enable performance. She is also Co-host of the award-winning psychology podcast, Truth, Lies & Work and Co-Founder of people and culture consultancy, Oblong. Leanne shares practical tips and best practices for all of us to better understand more about the best ways to navigate one of the worst workplace experiences. Find more information about the episode and Leanne Elliott on our show notes: https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/layoff-redundancies-leanne-elliott46. From Ideas to Impact: Create your own blueprint for change with Michael Sheldrick
50:00How do you translate your ideas into meaningful, maximum impact?This week on the We Are Human Leaders podcast, we speak with the incredible Michael Sheldrick, cofounder of Global Citizen and author of the upcoming From Ideas to Impact: A Playbook for Influencing and Implementing Change in a Divided World. With 12 million members around the world, Global Citizen has raised more than USD 40 billion to help improve lives, making Michael a leader in the field. We’re sure this conversation will empower and inspire you to translate YOUR ideas into impact, too.During this inspiring and insight-packed episode of We are Human Leaders, we examine the common pitfalls people make. In particular, Michael shares the importance of being clear your own authentic contribution and capabilities so you can engage the right support for maximum impact. We also explore the importance of being clear both on the exact issue you are looking to solve, and the one solution you are looking to implement.With a career that spans the world of pop and policy, Michael has worked with an impressive roster of international artists such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Priyanka Chopra, Rihanna and Usher, as well as prominent political leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former Australian Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.Find out more about Michael Sheldrick, including where to find his book in our show notes at https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/idea-to-impact-michael-sheldrick45. The Unseen Leader: the Power of Understated Leadership with Martin Gutmann Ph.D.
34:20Leadership is one of the most hyped topics in business today. But are the historical archetypes of Leadership really the inspiration we should be drawing on? In this episode we’re unpacking the recent book of Martin Gutmann Ph.D., The Unseen Leader which is an exploration of leadership through the lens of historical scholarship, offering a less sensationalized and stereotypical protagonist's tale of leadership. Martin’s research focuses on leaders who largely remained unseen and unwritten about through the pages of history. Not because their impact and influence wasn’t substantial, but because they don’t comply with the compelling heroes' tale, and offer us an opportunity to redefine what true leadership is. Martin Gutmann Ph.D., is a Swiss-American historian, author, and professor at the Lucerne School of Business, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland. He has published three books, most recently (as co-editor with Dan Gorman) Before the UN Sustainable Development Goals: A Historical Companion (Oxford University Press). He lives in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany, with his wife and their three children.Find the full show notes about the episode, and where to find Martin's book at www.wearehumanleaders.com44. Leading With Vulnerability: Using Vulnerability Effectively for Leaders with Jacob Morgan
34:23There’s no denying that vulnerability has been a buzzword in leadership for some time now. But what exactly does vulnerability look like in the workplace, and how do we use it effectively in leadership?In today’s conversation we explore the concept of with vulnerability with Jacob Morgan author of Leading with Vulnerability. He details how leaders can effectively use vulnerability to connect, motivate and engage teams.Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership, the future of work, and employee experience, He speaks in front of tens of thousands of people each year and his content is seen over a million times a year. Jacob is the best-selling author of five books: Leading With Vulnerability (Wiley 2024), The Future Leader (Wiley 2020) The Employee Experience Advantage (Wiley, 2017), The Future of Work (Wiley, 2014), and The Collaborative Organization (McGraw Hill, 2012). He speaks at over 50 conferences a year including TED Academy which is one of the largest TED events in the world. In addition Jacob provides advisory and thought leadership services to various organizations around the world.To learn more about Jacob Morgan and find his latest book, check out our show notes at www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast43. Built In Bias: The Potential And Perils Of AI For Leaders And Workplaces with Tracey Spicer
29:26Our societies are permeated with bias. Many people are subject to multiple biases without even being aware. At the same time, AI is everywhere in our everyday lives. So, what are the implications when bias is built into AI? The answer is potentially dangerous, with implications for our leadership, our workplaces and beyond. And yet, there is hope.In this conversation we are talking to Tracey Spicer about her new book Man Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future. She unpacks the shocking forms of bias she discovered in the 7 years of research for the book, the implications of AI for work and leadership, and practical steps leaders can take now to harness AI for positive impacts in the workplace of the future.Tracey Spicer is a multiple award winning author, journalist and broadcaster. She has also been awarded for her extensive charity and social enterprise work. Tracey is a sought after keynote speaker and thought leader and you’re about to find out why – she’s articulate, compelling and a great storyteller.Tracey is a glass half full kind of person – and this shines through in her solution-oriented thinking around what can be a daunting topic: AI, and the future of work.Find more information about Tracey Spicer and the full show notes at www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast42. Future Fit: Creating Organisations Ready For The Future with Friska Wirya
33:22Is your organisation future fit?How can you navigate the uncharted waves of change and emerge stronger than before?In this conversation we had a conversation with highly acclaimed change management expert Friska Wirya. In her new book ‘The Future Fit Organisation’ she tackles the burning questions that keep forward-looking leaders awake at night, with unique insights that pave the way for change to galvanise. Real-world case studies and thought-provoking analysis equip you to shape a resilient organisation poised for sustained success:Level up your ability to catalyse enterprise-wide change.Harness the right headspace to guide with acuity and nimbleness.Foster creativity in problem solving to stay head and shoulders above the rest.Drive acceptance and adoption to fuel expansion and unlock step-change performance.Forge a vibrant organisational culture that acts as the calm among the chaos.Perfect your transformative leadership savvy to motivate your organisation to embrace change - be it in the boardroom or on the shop floor.The Future Fit Organisation is your compass for steering through change, providing practical strategies to successfully guide and evolve your organisation's transformation.Are you ready to get future fit? Dive into the conversation and find out!Friksa is a Change Management Thought Leader, and author of her bestselling new book the Future Fit Organisation: a leaders guide to transformation.She has led change at global organizations driving hundreds of millions in annual savings and is now Chief Change Officer at Fresh by Friska. Friska is lifelong learner and self-confessed geek, and she’s a born communicator – which we’ll sure you’ll agree with after listening to this warm and wide ranging conversation.Find out more about Friska Wirya and where to find her book at our shownotes on www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast
40. Mind Body Wisdom and The Illusion of Control with Ellen Langer
53:11Life consists only of moments, nothing more than that. So if you make the moment matter, it all mattersWhat does it mean to truly be mindful? In today’s conversation we explore the mind-body connection through decades of powerful, trailblazing research with Harvard University Professor and the ‘Mother of Mindfulness’ Ellen Langer.This conversation will radically shift your perception around what it means to be mindful, and mindless. From reversing the signs of aging, to healing from dire medial prognosis, through to the illusion of control and how Leaders can better engage workplaces to be more present and mindful - this conversation with Professor Langer covers it all.Ellen J Langer was the first tenured female in the Harvard Psychology Department, and has since lead decades of ground-breaking research into mindfulness human behaviour, and it’s opposite, earning her the title of ‘Mother of Mindfulness’.Ellen J. Langer is the author of eleven books, including the international bestseller Mindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages, and more than two hundred research articles. She is the recipient of, among other numerous awards and honors, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association, the Award for Distinguished Contributions of Basic Science to the Application of Psychology from the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, and the Adult Development and Aging Distinguished Research Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. Langer’s trailblazing experiments in social psychology have earned her inclusion in The New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas” issue and will soon be the subject of a major motion picture. A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and a painter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.This conversation is nothing short of mind-altering, let’s dive in.