#16: Tim Ryan, PricewaterhouseCoopers US Chair & Senior Partner—Listen to Different Perspectives

How Leaders Lead with David Novak Podcast

Today’s guest is Tim Ryan, US Chair and Senior Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the top accounting and consulting firms in the world. 

You don’t get elected to this kind of position if you’re not absolutely at the top of your game. And Tim sure is. He is one of the smartest guys around. 

But that does not mean he has all the answers. In fact, in his words, he “drives himself crazy with listening.” He’s always seeking out more data points and drawing out differing perspectives.

It’s really at the heart of how they serve their clients and formulate strategy.

And that willingness to listen has also empowered him to make some really bold decisions. 

Right after he was elected to his role in 2016, there was a tragic, racially charged shooting in Dallas. Tim listened to his employees’ rousing response. And it motivated him to drastically shift his entire leadership strategy to focus on racial injustice. 

That’s the big leadership lesson waiting for you today. When you know how to listen to different perspectives, you can make even the toughest decisions from a place that’s informed and empathetic. And that’s definitely the mark of a great leader.

You’ll also learn:

  • A practical blueprint for making diversity a real priority at your company
  • The #1 thing to focus on when things feel scary or chaotic at work
  • The 3 big trends every business needs to be dialed into right now
  • What to do when you make a mistake (yes, this is the hard-won wisdom after the infamous Oscars blunder)

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