You need to learn strategies for being comfortable hearing views that you’re really opposed to.

Professor Deborah Prentice
You need to learn strategies for being comfortable hearing views that you’re really opposed to.
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Leading with Curiosity: Professor Deborah Prentice 

This week’s quote comes from last week’s Leadership Lab interview with Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of @University of Cambridge, where she discussed the importance of leading with questions: 

Professor Deborah Prentice: "You need to learn strategies for being comfortable hearing views that you’re really opposed to."

A Pioneer in Research and Academic Leadership

Professor Deborah Prentice previously spent 35 years at Princeton University, where she served as Dean of Faculty and later as Provost. She is a pioneer in research and leadership: her trailblazing work on pluralistic ignorance applied to college alcohol use is a foundation of numerous campus alcohol education and bystander intervention programmes.  

Professor Prentice's leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that the best leaders enable others rather than taking a directive approach. Her perspective recognises that leadership is not about giving orders but facilitating connection and bringing the community together.

Leadership Grounded in Curiosity and Facilitating Connection 

Professor Prentice's quote highlights a crucial aspect of leadership: understanding others, particularly those you serve as a leader, even when these perspectives may be challenging to align with. Her philosophy of beginning with questions in any leadership role reminds us that leadership is most effective when it enables others and encourages the community to come together. 

This perspective resonates strongly with the Laidlaw value of being #Curious and the Oxford Character Project Leadership Virtue of #Collaboration.  Curiosity drives leaders to be flexible and actively listen, allowing communities and organisations to thrive. Collaboration allows leaders to stay open-minded and cooperative, staying connected with those they serve. 

A Call to Reflect

As we consider Professor Prentice's leadership approach, take a moment to ask yourself: What valuable insights have you gained from engaging with a perspective that truly challenged your own?

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