Summary

In this episode of the Optimal Leadership podcast, host Wilf engages with Dr. Franziska Frank, author of The Power of Humility in Leadership, to explore the intricate relationship between humility, luck, and circumstance in leadership. They discuss how leaders often struggle with the concept of humility, particularly in attributing their successes to external factors like luck rather than solely to their own abilities. Frank emphasizes that humility is not about downplaying one's achievements but about recognizing the broader context in which those achievements occur. She introduces the idea that a significant portion of success can be attributed to luck and circumstances, suggesting that leaders should embrace this perspective to foster a more resilient and adaptable organizational culture.

The conversation delves into the importance of training and self-awareness for leaders, highlighting that many leaders enter roles without adequate preparation. Frank argues that humility can lead to better decision-making and a more supportive work environment. They also touch on the balance between hard and soft leadership styles, illustrating that effective leadership requires a blend of both. The episode concludes with insights on how leaders can navigate crises by fostering innovation and collaboration, ultimately reinforcing the idea that humility and recognition of external factors can enhance leadership effectiveness.

About Dr. Franziska Frank

Dr. Franziska Frank is author of a book on humility in leadership, which was recommended by bestselling author Adam Grant. She is Visiting Lecturer at ESMT Berlin, Nr. 4 worldwide for Customised Programs, and teaches about humility, influencing, power and other core leadership skills at ESMT, other business schools and companies directly.

Keywords

leadership, humility, organizational culture, luck, resilience, leadership styles, emotional intelligence, effective leadership, ESMT Berlin, Franziska Frank

Takeaways

Humility is about an ego-free perspective.

Leaders often struggle to attribute success to luck.

Recognizing luck fosters a culture of resilience.

Effective leadership requires a balance of hard and soft skills.

Leaders must adapt their style based on context.

Titles

The Power of Humility in Leadership

Navigating Leadership with Humility and Luck

Sound bites

"Humility means seeing what needs to be done."

"I’m responsible for about 10 percent of my success."

"Most things will not be on your gravestone."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Humility

02:36 Understanding Humility in Leadership

03:54 The Role of Luck and Circumstance

08:01 Training and Self-Awareness for Leaders

10:41 The Impact of Circumstances on Success

16:21 Balancing Hard and Soft Leadership Styles

20:24 Cultural Differences in Leadership

25:27 Adapting Leadership Styles to Contexts

28:37 The Duty of a Leader

34:14 Crisis Management and Innovation

39:11 The Psychology of Decision-Making

44:21 Reinventing Organizations Without New Leadership

49:49 The Role of Luck and Perseverance in Leadership

About The Optimal Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Wilf Blackburn, author of Optimal Leadership and a global Serial CEO, the podcast brings together real executives and eminent scholars to ask one essential question: Do leadership theories taught in classrooms actually work in the real world?

New episodes available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

What can modern business leaders learn when Eastern philosophy meets Western executive practice?

In this episode of The Optimal Leadership Podcast, global Serial CEO Wilf Blackburn is joined by Professor Zuo, professor of Management and author of Chinese Wisdom and Modern Management, for a deep and reflective conversation on leadership across cultures.

Drawing on decades of scholarship and real-world executive experience, this discussion explores how ancient Eastern wisdom and modern Western leadership thinking converge in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world.

Together, Wilf Blackburn and Professor Zuo examine why humility is not weakness but strategic strength, why virtue and performance are not opposing forces, and how leaders can find steadiness, clarity, and credibility amid constant change.

This episode addresses some of the most pressing leadership questions facing CEOs, founders, and senior executives today:

• Why understanding cultural differences matters but shared human values matter more

• How Eastern philosophy reframes leadership concepts like patience, timing, and balance

• What Confucius and Lao Tzu can teach modern leaders about moral authority and trust

• Why moving slowly can help organisations move faster in the long run

• How leaders can shift from command-and-control to genuine empowerment

• Why lifelong learning is now a strategic necessity, not a personal choice

• How humility, listening, and learning create stronger cultures and better results

Professor Zuo explains how leaders can uphold core principles, integrity, responsibility, empathy, and learning while adapting methods to changing environments, cultures, and technologies.

Wilf connects these insights directly to the lived realities of executive leadership, showing how philosophy translates into practical action inside organisations.

This is not a theoretical discussion. It is a grounded, thoughtful exploration of what actually works in leadership, across borders, cultures, and industries.

Whether you are a CEO navigating global complexity, a founder building culture from the ground up, or an emerging leader seeking wisdom beyond frameworks and buzzwords, this episode offers calm clarity, practical insight, and timeless perspective.

The Optimal Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Wilf Blackburn, author of Optimal Leadership and a global Serial CEO, the podcast brings together real executives and eminent scholars to ask one essential question: Do leadership theories taught in classrooms actually work in the real world?

New episodes available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.