Ep 377: Marc Pritchard of Procter & Gamble - Re-Loaded - "The Vulnerable Leader"

Fearless Creative Leadership

This week’s episode is a rebroadcast of a conversation I had in January of 2020 with Marc Pritchard, the CMO of P&G.

In a pre-pandemic world, leaders with jobs as visible and demanding as Marc’s were not talking about the importance of being vulnerable very much.

His willingness to do so then stood out.

Based on everything that has happened since then to change our understanding of leadership, Marc’s beliefs were unbelievably prescient.

Here is that conversation in full.

Here’s a question. Are you willing to be vulnerable?

Today’s guest is Marc Pritchard. Marc is the CMO of Procter & Gamble -- the largest advertiser in the world. Over 4 billion people buy P&G brands which means the choices the company makes have staggering human, as well as business, implications.

Marc’s leadership journey has brought him to a position of enormous influence. As you’ll hear, that journey has been marked by his willingness to look at himself honestly. To listen to other people’s observations about his leadership, and to consistently raise his own expectations of himself.

This episode is called, “The Vulnerable Leader”.

After Marc and I had finished our interview he asked me why I’d started Fearless. My answer surprised him and so I thought I’d share it with you.

I explained that in my work, I’ve learned that exceptional leaders share three traits.

They’re very clear about the difference they want to make. They recognize and use their strengths - and they’re not afraid of their weaknesses.

Which makes them more focused, more confident and more honest.

But, even the most exceptional leaders take many years to reach this level of self-awareness.

And, as I explained to Marc, my purpose in my work is to help leaders get there earlier in their careers. So they have more time to maximize their impact. And more time to make a bigger difference.

This podcast allows me to help listeners understand that fear is part of everyone’s leadership journey. Even the most accomplished and acclaimed.

You might suffer from imposter syndrome or self-doubt. You might have fallen into the habit of focusing on your weaknesses or ignoring your strengths. You might not want to be at the center of attention, and step back at times when you should step forward.

You might, as in Marc’s case, have developed a personal narrative that is incomplete.

If you experience any of these, you are not alone.

What separates the unforgettable leaders from the forgettable ones is their willingness to be open to new possibilities about themselves. And their ability to use those insights to raise their own expectations of what they’re capable of.

Marc’s willingness to look at himself honestly is the foundation on which his leadership is built. His vulnerability to admit what he has seen has allowed him to unlock the talents of others. And has helped him raise his own expectations for himself.

This podcast is also raising its own expectations of itself. And over the weeks and months ahead, my hope is that these conversations and the insights they provide will help you realize what you are capable of. And help you become that leader sooner.