Mark Zuckerberg’s Most Valued Friend is the title of a recent article in the New York Times and a real misnomer. Shame on you NYT. This same article credits Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, with guiding the growth of Facebook — and her boss – not the job of a friend by any stretch of the imagination, and if the duo has developed a friendship in the process of working together, more power to them.
What She Brings
The Sandberg Zuckerberg duo represents what NOW Leadership is all about – the integration of feminine and masculine attributes and what I described in Do We Need a King and a Queen – A He Leader and a She Leader. Zuckerberg and his board have the good sense to supplement HIS leadership with what SHE brings to the table, people savvy and relationship building skills. Many men have these skills, but Zuckerberg is not one of them. So welcome the Queen.
According to the Times
Ms. Sandberg, a well-regarded Internet executive, is known for her interpersonal skills as much as for her sharp intellect. And her regular meetings with the famously introverted Mr. Zuckerberg have helped to keep one of Silicon Valley’s most unusual business partnerships working wonders for Facebook.
Mr. Zuckerberg, a 26-year-old engineer and product visionary, is socially awkward and reserved. At 41, Ms. Sandberg is the opposite: polished, personable, chatty and at ease in the limelight.
Mr. Zuckerberg further credits his she-leader partner with huge improvements in the dynamics of the management team.
Touchy Feely? Phooey
The Times says all of this is a bit “touchy feely.” Double shame on you NYT for missing the point that today’s leaders must do exactly those things that Ms. Sandberg does well AND what Mr. Zuckerberg does well by employing his technical strengths and vision to build the Facebook website and platform. She focuses on
- building the business
- expanding internationally
- cultivating relationships with large advertisers
- and putting her polish on things like communications and public policy
Building, expanding, cultivating relationships and polishing communications are not “touchy-feely.” They are required for 21st century leaders. They are CORE skills. “Touchy-feely” is so yesterday. Cultivating relationships is so NOW.
Finally, Ms. Sandberg has also helped the Facebook executive in his efforts to do good. When Zuckerberg and his girlfriend Priscilla Chan wanted to give back in a significant way, it was Ms. Sandberg who used her own network (the result of those touchy feely skills) to organize meetings that resulted in a partnership with Newark’s visionary Mayor Cory Booker.
Ms. Sandberg “helped me navigate the politics of it and to figure out where I could have the most leverage,” Mr. Zuckerberg says. “That she was the person that Priscilla and I turned to is a strong symbol of our relationship.”
Touchy-Feely Phooey. Strong values, a vast deep network and relational skills – Priceless.
Watch COO Sheryl Sandberg’s presentation at TEDWomen