How Business Really Works: Authentic Leadership with Gavin Fox-Smith

Published Monday, 3 October 2016

Our podcast host today Robert Hossary, General Manager NSW/ACT at The American Chamber of Commerce discusses ‘Authentic Leadership’ with guest Gavin Fox-Smith, Managing Director at Johnson & Johnson Medical ANZ and AmCham Governor. 

Mr Fox-Smith joined Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia/NZ in 1997 as a Regional Business Director and in February 2012 was appointed Managing Director for Global Surgery and Johnson & Johnson Medical ANZ. Over the past 15 years Gavin has held leadership roles in Sales, Marketing and General Management across Ethicon, EES, DePuy and Cordis.

The ongoing problems in business leadership in the past has underscored the need for a new kind of leader in the twenty-first century: the authentic leader. You also do not have to be at the top of your organization. Anyone can learn to be an authentic leader.

The journey begins with leaders understanding their life stories. Authentic leaders frame their stories in ways that allow them to see themselves not as passive observers but as individuals who learn from their experiences. These leaders make time to examine their experiences and to reflect on them, and in doing so they grow as individuals and as leaders. Authentic leaders also work hard at developing self-awareness through persistent and often courageous self-exploration. Denial can be the greatest hurdle that leaders face in becoming self-aware, but authentic leaders ask for, and listen to, honest feedback. They also use formal and informal support networks to help them stay grounded and lead integrated lives.

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