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What happened before you were 12?

By Erica Keswin

Danny Meyer, founder and executive chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group and author of Setting the Table is a great human leader who I interviewed for my first book, Bring Your Human to Work.

I heard him recently on Adam Grant’s podcast, WorkLife (which is great, if you haven’t listened to it!) talking about how he interviews potential candidates, and I’m obsessed. He chooses questions that help him not only see the person he is interviewing, but also get a sense of how they see themselves.

One of his favorites is, “Tell me about something that happened in your life before the age of 12 that you think has had more of an impact on you today than anything else.” According to Meyer, this question “makes someone stop and think and shows how vulnerable they want to be or not.” He went on to say… “I’m looking for honesty, vulnerability, willingness to grow, looking for a little growth mindset. It also gives me a chance to show my vulnerability” (emphasis mine).

I love this!

When people ask me—what makes a great human leader? I tell them that the recipe (sorry, I couldn’t resist a restaurant industry pun!) for great human leadership is one part vulnerability, one part empathy and one part experimentation.

Why does being a great human leader matter?

Because according to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence survey, “Seven in 10 U.S. workers say they would leave a job if they had a bad manager.”

Here’s the good news. Being a great human leader isn’t rocket science.

In fact, by joining me for the fall cohort of Managers on a Mission: Becoming a Great Human Leader, you’ll actually get a roadmap.

Here’s what you receive when you sign up for this NINE WEEK program:

  • SIX 90-minute sessions covering ways to become a great human leader (All sessions run from 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET on 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/19, and 12/3)
  • One 1-1 coaching session
  • Weekly office hours on Thursdays from 12:00 – 1:00 PM, starting 10/3
  • Workbook (digital and hard copy)
  • Copy of my book, The Retention Revolution
  • Private WhatsApp community group with your cohort of managers

After this program, you’ll walk away with your very own great human leader roadmap, more confidence as a manager, less overwhelm, leveled-up management skills, and a built in community of fellow managers on a mission.

I hope you sign up soon as space is limited!

8/27/24

About Erica

Erica Keswin is an internationally sought-after speaker, bestselling author, and workplace strategist who partners with some of the most well-known companies in the world on how to bring their human to work. For the past two decades, Erica’s work has defined what it means to be a human leader. Erica’s Human Workplace Trilogy: Bring Your Human to Work, Rituals Roadmap, and The Retention Revolution was published by McGraw Hill and each debuted as a Wall Street Journal bestseller. 

When Erica isn’t writing books, she delivers keynotes, leads workshops, and coaches top-of-class companies and individuals to help them improve their performance by honoring relationships in today’s hybrid workplace.

Revolutionary Speaking Programs to Develop Human Leaders