TED Talks everyone in business needs to watch

We include this talk in our list of TED Talks all bosses and recruiters need to watch: Regina Hartley implores hiring managers to dig a bit deeper when screening candidates, to look past “perfect” resumes to find gems in the rough. Hartley believes that candidates who have faced and overcome adversity, such as poverty, substance abuse, or learning disabilities, are more likely to demonstrate determination, grit, and key relationship-building skills in the workforce, and she uses several anecdotes to prove her point.

This talk is part of our round-up of TED Talks all bosses and recruiters need to watch: In order to succeed, businesses have to be able to keep up in a world of constant technological and social change. Jim Hemerling demonstrates how continual change doesn’t have to be painful by emphasizing the importance of putting people first – from being inclusive and taking into account different perspectives to empowering employees with the tools and skills they need to succeed.

Here's another select from our list of TED Talks all bosses and recruiters need to watch: Conflict doesn’t have to be a bad word. Many executives and employees fear speaking out or presenting a perspective that goes against popular opinion in the company, but is that doing a greater disservice in the long run? Margaret Heffernan shares the importance of seeking out people with diverse viewpoints, and how successful organizations can leverage disagreement and debate for the best possible results.

This talk was featured in our list of TED Talks all bosses need to watch: Author, public speaker, and consultant Simon Sinek specializes in leadership and management, but he’s an ethnographer by training. In Sinek’s experience, the key to great leadership is in one’s ability to inspire. In this presentation, Sinek explains his “golden circle,” and how to inspire great actions and even greater results.

Here's another from our list of TED Talks all bosses need to watch: There is no rulebook on leadership, but Fields Wicker-Miurin has the next best thing – stories that lead by example. In her talk, Wicker-Miurin shares the stories of three passionate leaders from across the world that had no experience or education in management, but ignited real change.

Against all odds, with little time for communication or organization, this four-star general had to figure out the key to leadership faster than he thought possible. In his talk, Stanley McChrystal, former commander of U.S. and International forces in Afghanistan, muses on the challenges of unifying people from different ages, skill sets, and experiences – and how personal connections reign king.

Are we preparing people to lead in the 21st century? To Roselinde Torres, the answer is no. Reflecting on her 25 years of experience observing great leaders, she asserts that traditional leadership assessments often lead us down the wrong path, and explains the three crucial questions we need to ask to find the real leaders-in-the-making.

After years of conducting orchestras in Europe, Itay Talgam turned to conducting people. In his talk, Talgam discusses how the key to successful conducting is to learn to trust your musicians and develop a partnership for success – and how you can use the same principals to create perfect harmony in your team.