What if the biggest barrier to your leadership growth isn’t your team, your boss, or your company but your own self-awareness? Harvard professor Margaret Andrews reveals why understanding yourself is the foundation of all effective leadership.

Margaret Andrews joins the podcast to discuss her book “Manage Yourself to Lead Others.” As a Harvard University professor who teaches a variety of leadership courses and executive programs at Harvard University, Margaret breaks down why self-awareness isn’t just nice-to-have soft skill, it’s the foundation that determines whether you’ll advance or stay stuck in your first stage of management.

In this episode, Margaret reveals her six essential questions for self-understanding, explains why 85% of what people admire in their best bosses are interpersonal skills, and shares the powerful story of “Dr. Ventura”, an engineer who courageously admitted he’d been a terrible team leader. She also tackles the knowing-doing gap that keeps smart people from implementing what they know and provides practical advice on getting the feedback you need to grow.

Whether you’re feeling like you can’t gain your leadership footing or wondering how to advance in leadership, Margaret’s research-backed insights will help you build the self-awareness that transforms good managers into exceptional leaders.

Key Highlights

• The biggest leadership lie: There’s no single “best way” to lead, what works for big firms won’t necessarily work for your team
• 85% of what people admire in their best bosses are interpersonal skills, not technical expertise or intelligence
• The “Dr. Ventura” moment: Why being promoted for technical skills can backfire without developing leadership abilities
• Six questions for self-understanding: Who shaped you, what events formed you, your real values, how you define success, emotional awareness, and feedback patterns
• The knowing-doing gap: Why we know what good leadership looks like but struggle to consistently practice it
• The S-curve of skill development: You’ll suck at new leadership skills at first, which is exactly why you should start now when fewer people are watching
• How to get the feedback you need: Ask your boss, peers, and people you admire – most people are generous with what they know
• Team charters that actually work: Keep them simple, focus on what causes problems, and enforce what you agree to

Resources/Links Mentioned

• Book: “Manage Yourself to Lead Others” by Margaret Andrews
• Margaret’s website: https://www.margaretandrews.com/
• Margaret’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretcandrews/

Guest Bio

Margaret C. Andrews is a seasoned executive, academic leader, speaker, and instructor. She has created and teaches a variety of leadership courses and professional and executive programs at Harvard University and is the founder of the MYLO Center, a private leadership development firm. Her clients include Amazon, Citi, Continental, Walmart, Wayfair, and the United Nations. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.