August 11, 2025

Stephen Bruyant-Langer's Nordic Leadership Model

by Matthew Hughes
reviewed by Keith Jackson

Executive coach Stephen Bruyant-Langer shares his new model of leadership, based on the core principles of Nordic culture. The model explains why Nordic countries – and their organizations – thrive, and how organizations worldwide can adopt these principles.

Key Takeaways: understanding the Nordic Leadership Model

  • There are nine dimensions to Nordic leadership. Horizontal, network, parallel, circular, distributed, motivional, coupled, spiral, and trust.
  • The central dimension is trust. Traditional organizational models lack trust, and this is what causes friction. More trust means reduced complexity and faster decision making.
  • The model requires giving away power. This is difficult for leaders. But empowering others creates more value in the long run.

About Stephen Bruyant-Langer

Stephen Bruyant-Langer is an executive coach, author and keynote speaker. He worked in marketing for Coca-Cola and L'Oréal before founding his own executive coaching company.

His latest book is called The Existential Playbook: How to Survive, Live and Thrive.

Let's act: implementing the Nordic Leadership Model

Stephen's recommended first step is to contact someone who has a different perspective from your usual way of thinking. This widening of inputs entrenches trust and combats narrow thinking.

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So make this commitment today:

  • Ask for an opinion on a leadership issue from someone new.

It will feel awkward in the beginning. But by incorporating a diversity of perspectives, you'll start the journey to transforming your leadership.

Explore these further leadership resources from Mindtools for more insights:

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