Leadership Lessons From the Prime Minister of Canada | Justin Trudeau | TED

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Justin Trudeau's Leadership Philosophy

Justin Trudeau believes in authentic and meaningful conversations, empowering people, and explaining complex matters to his constituents.
He focuses on making a positive impact rather than seeking popularity and detaches himself from both positive and negative perceptions, instead focusing on constructive criticism and empathy.
Trudeau believes that wanting to be Prime Minister doesn't require unusual ambition or arrogance, but rather a belief in one's ability to do the job well.

Trudeau's interest in politics stems from his maternal grandfather, Jimmy Sinclair, a skilled retail politician.
He initially hesitated to take on leadership roles due to the responsibilities involved but embraced them to rebuild the Liberal Party.
Despite challenges and crises, Trudeau remains motivated by the desire to make a positive impact on Canadians' lives.
He finds constant motivation in the excitement and responsibility of his job, especially during challenging times.

Trudeau values connecting with people and having genuine interactions.
He strives to be authentic, even in difficult moments, and emphasizes the importance of balance in his personal life.
To encourage open communication, he focuses on making his team feel safe to voice concerns and criticisms.
Trudeau acknowledges the challenge of explaining policies in detail and is working on improving his ability to connect with people and reassure them of his plans.

Trudeau admires his father and Abraham Lincoln as leaders, appreciating Lincoln's ability to handle a divided country.
He describes Canada as "as Canadian as possible under the circumstances," emphasizing compromise, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Trudeau considers advice to be more like his father as bad because he believes in authenticity.
He discusses the challenges of growing up with successful parents and the expectations that come with their legacy.

Trudeau reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian society and the lingering divisions it has caused, expressing his desire to bring Canadians back together.
He discusses his decision to only have pro-choice MPs in his party, acknowledging the divisive nature of the issue but believing it to be the right position.
Trudeau describes his decision-making process, emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance between the optimal solution and what is feasible and acceptable to the public.

Organizational psychologist Adam Grant suggests avoiding binary biases and seeking a third perspective that the silent majority might hold to create cohesive communities.
Trudeau highlights the example of former Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, who demonstrated political courage through compromise and finding common ground.
Grant challenges the negative perception of compromise and suggests considering the happiness of others in political decision-making.
The ideal world should be peaceful and cooperative, without conflicts or wars, but there are disagreements on the best approach to achieve these ideals.
Finding common ground and working together is essential for meaningful progress, and patience is important as it takes time to find the right solutions.
"Perfect is the enemy of the good" - taking meaningful steps forward can be more transformative than trying to change everything at once.