HRDTV: International keynote speaker Kendal Netmaker shares insights
In an interview with HRDTV, entrepreneur, author and keynote speaker Kendal Netmaker shares valuable insights into leadership development, diversity and inclusion, motivation in the workplace, and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.
Netmaker’s journey is deeply rooted in his First Nations heritage growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada. He believes that his unique upbringing provided an environment that created an autopilot of learning for him.
“A lot of the skills that I developed in my time came from my ancestors. When we were growing up, oftentimes we were forced to listen, bow our heads, and we didn't maintain a lot of eye contact. This was how we were taught historically through generations,” he said.
“What it did is it created an autopilot of learning, being forced to listen all the time, always being a sponge, always being a knowledge seeker. And I carry that into when I started businesses, when I got into keynote speaking, and writing books,” he continued.
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Netmaker’s core advice for emerging leaders is simple: “In order for us to be effective as leaders, we’ve got to be able to listen with the intent of understanding and not just responding.”
He believes if you can develop the art of listening, you are able to understand and empathise with whoever you are teaching for the future.
“This is the one skill that I really believe is underdeveloped in our society right now. And if we took the time to develop this, many leaders could develop into true effective leaders for the future,” he said.
Netmaker urges organisations to embrace a culture of understanding and learning about the experiences of different cultural and ethnic groups.
“You have to take time to understand their history, the things that have shaped their value system, their struggles, their opportunities.”
He also champions fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. He champions an atmosphere where employees are encouraged to innovate, experiment, and even make mistakes.
“You always have to put yourself in situations where it’s a little uneasy, a little on edge, he states, highlighting that by fostering a culture of innovation and embracing discomfort, organisations can unlock the level of creativity and drive.