Podcast S3 Ep4: Dr Heidi K. Gardner on Smarter Collaboration, Performance & Reward

Welcome to series 3, episode 4 of the Performance Leader podcast series.

‍

In this podcast, we discuss Dr. Gardner's new book, Smarter Collaboration. We cover a wide range of topics from firms that do a great job of collaboration to leadership and change. We go into depth on compensation models, performance systems and metrics that enable or inhibit collaboration. We also talk about purpose and feedback, and we even touch on Chat GPT. I hope you enjoy this podcast with the most influential thought leader in the professional services sector today.

‍

‍

About our guest

‍

Our guest on the Performance Leader's podcast is Dr. Heidi K. Gardner, author of the best selling book Smart Collaboration, and the newly released Smarter Collaboration: A New Approach to Breaking Down Barriers and Transforming Work.

‍

Dr. Gardner is a distinguished fellow at Harvard Law School and previously a professor at Harvard Business School.

‍

Named by Thinkers50 as Next Generation Business Guru, Dr. Gardner is a sought after advisor, keynote speaker and facilitator globally.

‍

With her team at Gardner & Co., she works extensively with boards, executive teams and other senior leaders to boost performance by embedding the principles and practices of smarter, agile, cross silo collaboration.

‍

Her work results in concrete, quantifiable performance improvements. Dr. Gardner has lived and worked on four continents, including asa Fulbright Fellow and for McKinsey & Co and Procter and Gamble.

‍

‍

Show notes

00:00 – Introduction to Dr Heidi K. Gardner

‍

02:47 – Reasons for writing “Smarter Collaboration” (after the incredible success of "Smart Collaboration")

‍

03:25 – Great examples of firms embracing the holistic vision of Smart and Smarter Collaboration

‍

07:15 – How firm leaders can support the behavioural change that underpins the shift to Smarter Collaboration

‍

09:25 – Why paying people to collaborate doesn't work (and what reward approaches do work)

‍

11:25 – The role of collaboration in motivating professionals

‍

12:30 – Is there an optimal compensation for spurring partner collaboration?

‍

15:15 – A holistic performance management system for a modern professional firm

‍

17:10 – Using inspiring strategies

‍

18:00 – The Performance Scorecard designed by Heidi Gardner and Ivan Matviak

‍

21:45 – Barriers to collaboration: using origination credits as a KPI

‍

23:45 – Double counting origination credits to encourage collaboration

‍

27:35 – Why frequent performance check ins lead to high performance

‍

30:45 – Improving formal evaluations by focussing on "how" performance was delivered

‍

32:05 – Why helping professionals play to strengths is better for results and wellbeing

‍

37:10 – How the Smart Collaboration Accelerator works to boost collaboration

‍

39:50 – Smarter Collaboration and Chat GPT