321: 7 Leadership Traits That Set Great Leaders Apart with Gaia van der Esch

The Modern Manager

When there’s great leadership, everyone flourishes.

We’ve seen the outcomes of having great leaders at work countless times–high-performing teams, healthy workplaces, increased profitability, and happy employees, among other things.

But what actually makes a great leader? What leadership traits create a lasting impact not just on organizations but also on the lives of the people you lead?

Thankfully, our guest expert is here to help us broaden our view of what effective leadership truly looks like.

Today’s guest is Gaia van der Esch. Gaia is an author, CEO, and policy expert. Above all, though, she sees herself as a change-maker. Gaia is currently the managing director of a large international foundation working to halt climate change, poverty, and exclusion, and previously served as the G20 Sherpa on gender equality. Her new book “Leading Our Way: How Women Are Redefining Leadership” was released recently by Wiley. Amongst others, she was nominated by Forbes in their 30under30 list.

In this episode, Gaia and I discuss what great leadership actually entails. Drawing on examples from influential women like Christina Figueres and Gloria Steinem, Gaia dives into how leaders can cultivate empathy, embrace vulnerability, and shift from hierarchical to circular leadership models.

Plus, in the extended episode available to Podcast+ members, Gaia reveals the transformative effect of embracing your authentic leadership style and offers insights on how to help your team members do the same.

Tune in to discover how you can lead your way.

Join the conversation now!

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Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (02:13) The problem with women embracing traditional leadership style
• (07:05) Why leaders must have a hard back with a soft front approach to leadership
• (12:29) Crying in the workplace isn’t a sign of weakness
• (17:26) Leadership is power with people and NOT power over people
• (20:22) The pros and cons of co-leadership
• (25:46) Iconic women leaders and their leadership styles
• (31:36) Keep up with Gaia
• (32:35) [Extended Episode Only] Tips in navigating people’s responses when you embrace your own authentic leadership style
• (36:58) [Extended Episode Only] How to empower your team members to embrace authentic leadership

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

- Build your team’s skills here

- Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

Keep up with Gaia van der Esch

- Connect with Gaia on LinkedIn and Instagram

- Grab a copy of her book here

- Visit Gaia’s website for more information here

20% Off Leading Our Way: How Women Are Redefining Leadership

In this book, Gaia shares an inspiring collection of leadership stories from seven iconic women around the world. These stories explore new leadership models, concepts, and tools to inspire action and solve global challenges.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

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