Episode 03: Working with Authority

A conversation with Professor Kimberlyn Leary

In order to understand the practice of leadership, Ron Heifetz reminds us to begin by exploring the concept of authority a little deeper (and how it is different from leadership). In the latest episode of On The Balcony we learn practical and powerful applications from Professor Kimberlyn Leary. She talks about her experience on co-teaching a class at Harvard Kennedy School on Authority with Professor Ron Heifetz, where they noticed how people often fall into a binary way of relating to authority: those who accept or even admire authority figures and those who reject and rebel against them. In their class, Professors Leary and Heifetz invited their students to explore further options to work with authority on a gradient. She explores with us the importance of good authority work and what it entails. And she also shares inspiring reflections on her own roles of authority, especially in the White House coordinating efforts around President Biden’s executive orders to address issues of equity. In the second half of the episode, our host, Michael, continues to engage on his own leadership journey. This time with powerful coaching from Judit Teichert as they explore patterns around authority.