TED: How to lead in the new era of employee activism | Megan Reitz

The video discusses the rise of employee activism and its impact on workplaces. It highlights the importance of understanding perceptions of activism and the challenges leaders face, such as optimism bubbles and advantage blindness. The video explores the political nature of inaction and describes various leadership responses to activism, from suppression to dialogic engagement. It concludes by emphasizing the need for proactive leadership to address social and environmental issues, enabling voices of difference to make a difference in the workplace.

What is a key reason for the rise of employee activism according to the introduction?

• Better office facilities

• Increased salaries

• Desire for more vacation time

• Social and environmental concerns

How is activism perceived differently across the world?

• As a mandatory activity

• As both a positive change and a threat

• As a form of entertainment

• As a universal right

What is an 'optimism bubble' in the context of leadership?

• A leader's preference for traditional methods

• A leader's ability to predict market trends

• A leader's focus on financial growth

• A leader's overestimation of their own effectiveness

What does 'advantage blindness' refer to?

• Overlooking market competition

• Focusing solely on profits

• Not recognizing the impact of one's status

• Ignoring employee feedback

Why is inaction considered as political as action?

• Because it saves resources

• Because it shows neutrality

• Because it can imply complicity

• Because it is less risky

What is the first step in the taxonomy of leadership responses to activism?

• Non-existent response

• Stimulating activism

• Facadism

• Defensive engagement

What does 'facadism' in leadership entail?

• Taking decisive action

• Making statements without follow-through

• Ignoring all issues

• Encouraging open dialogue

What characterizes 'dialogic engagement' in leadership?

• Avoiding difficult conversations

• Listening and learning from employees

• Imposing strict rules

• Focusing on financial outcomes

What is a key challenge of dialogue in leadership?

• It is straightforward and simple

• It is full of vulnerability and disagreement

• It requires no preparation

• It is always well-received

What is the ultimate goal of leadership as activism?

• To maintain the status quo

• To enable voices of difference to make a difference

• To focus solely on profits

• To avoid all conflicts