Gustavo Razzetti gave a keynote at the 2018 Agile Conference in Alicante, Spain on the democratization of leadership. He argued that leadership is not exclusive and that empowering every employee to lead is key to adapting to change. Razzetti presented 10 principles for wise, democratized leadership, including self-awareness, leading with questions instead of answers, removing time-wasters, encouraging rule-breaking with purpose, making mistakes public, and pre-approving decisions to validate approaches rather than outcomes. The overall message was that empowering every employee as a leader will help organizations thrive in today's changing environment.

1. The Democratization
of Leadership
Gustavo Razzetti – Keynote @ 2018 Agile Conference - Alicante, Spain
December 14, 2018

2. We help organizations drive positive change
2
Gustavo Razzetti
Change Instigator

3. We help people
stretch for
change.
@gusrazzetti

4. A d a p t a b i l i t y I s t h e N e w
C o m p e t i t i v e A d v a n t a g e .
OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT TO AN EVER-CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
WILL DETERMINE OUR FUTURE SUCCESS.

5. T h e C a s e f o r
D e m o c r a t i z i n g
L e a d e r s h i p

6. Democratization of Leadership is NOT…
A Pollyanna approach
Managing by consensus
Getting rid of structure
Anarchy & havoc

7. The Wo r kp l ace S u cks
Highly
Disengaged
24%
Engaged
13%
Disengaged
63%
Source: Gallup

8. D i s e n g a g e m e n t I s B a d f o r B u s i n e s s

9. 1 . M i c r o m a n a g e m e n t i s n o t s c a l a b l e

10. Every employee is a sensor

11. Autonomy Drives
Accountability

12. 2. Internal Motivation Is the Most Effective

13. M o t i v a t i o n 3 . 0 b y D a n i e l P i n k
Purpose
The desire to serve
something bigger
than ourselves.
Mastery
The desire to
become better at
something that
matters.
Autonomy
The desire to
control our lives.

14. The Opposite of Control Is
Not “Total Independence”
People want to have autonomy over:
• their tasks (what)
• their time (when)
• the team (who)
• the technique (how)
@gusrazzetti

15. L e t g o

16. 3 . I f l e a d e r s h i p I s S e l f l e s s ,
W h y M a k e P o w e r E x c l u s i v e ?

17. Power is an
Illusion

18. P o w e r = t o b e a b l e

19. Everyone has the ability and
responsibility to lead.
Democratization of Leadership

20. Leadership is a behavior
“When you see something,
do something.”

21. Leading, not leaders.

22. Leading is fluid, not fixed

23. We have turned leaders into superheroes

24. W i s d o m
C u l t u r e o f
A b u n d a n c e
B e i n g
H e l p f u l
C r e a t i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s H o w c a n I h e l p y o u ?
L i b e r a t i n g t h e A b i l i t y t o L e a d
D o i n g w h a t ’ s r i g h t

25. W i s d o m i s d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g , n o t
d o i n g t h i n g s r i g h t .
From Smart to Wise Leaders

26. # 1 . S e l f - A w a r e n e s s i s t h e P a t h t o
W i s d o m
90%
15%

27. The case for Self & Team-Awareness
@gusrazzetti

28. # 2 . L e a d W i t h Q u e s t i o n s
“The only true wisdom is in knowing
you know nothing.” — Socrates

29. Challenge existing assumptions
“If I leave the company,
what would you like the new CEO
to change?”

30. Create a Culture of Inquiry
“Tell me what’s not working at Pixar?
Tell me what’s working at Pixar?”
–Steve Jobs

31. Leading Is Ab o u t Being Hel p fu l
How can
I help
YOU?

32. #3. Remove Time-Wasters

33. L e t P e o p l e F i g u r e O u t H o w

34. Outcome > Rule
Values > Outcome
Collective Good > Personal Benefit
# 5 . E n c o u r a g e p e o p l e t o b r e a k t h e
r u l e s ( w i t h a p u r p o s e )

35. C u l t u r e i s t h e b e h a v i o r
w e r e w a r d a n d p u n i s h .
F r o m s c a r c i t y t o a b u n d a n c e

36. #6. Psychological Safety

37. # 7 . M a k e m i s t a k e s p u b l i c — c e l e b r a t e t h e
l e s s o n .
What’s your mistake policy?

38. # 8 . C r e a t e r u l e s t h a t e n a b l e , n o t l i m i t
“Dress Appropriately”

39. # 9 . P r e - A p p r o v e D e c i s i o n s
Validate the approach, not the outcome.

40. # 10. Ignite the Desire
“You cannot force me to surrender my soul.”
–Fred Kofman

42. W e D o n ’ t N e e d A n o t h e r
S u p e r h e r o

43. Give Yourself
Permission to Lead.
Thank YOU!
G u s t a v o R a z z e t t i
C E O , L i b e r a t i o n i s t
l i b e r a t i o n i s t . o r g
@ g u s r a z z e t t i