FieldNotes
Our daily Field Notes email is just the kind of jumpstart you need. A fast read. Maybe less than a minute. Because sometimes it just takes one insight to change the trajectory of the day.
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The Benefits of Two-in-a-Box Leadership
Shared leadership will continue to be an attractive choice in the right settings and organizations. We have long been taught that two heads are better than one. This is only true if together the two are smarter, not just more self-important, than one.
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Challenging a Strong First Impression
Leaders are generally quite good at taking limited amounts of information and making reasonable inferences. The first impressions leaders have of others, usually coming in just the first few minutes of contact, are often highly accurate. In fact, most leaders will tell you they surprise even themselves with their clairvoyance regarding first impressions. This encourages
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The Spark of Being True to Yourself
Dave Chappelle is considered one of the greatest comedians of our time. He is known for his seemingly effortless and spontaneous stand-up performances where he connects with audiences in an intimate and authentic way. But it hasn’t always been easy for Chappelle. In fact, in 2005, at the height of his stardom, he lost his way. Chappelle
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Restraining the Optimism That Leads to the Planning Fallacy
Why does it seem that projects always take longer than we anticipate? Because they typically do. Leaders generally underestimate the time it will take to complete any complex task. They fail to account for the challenges and obstacles inherent in completing large or elaborate projects, preferring instead to remain optimistic about what could be achieved
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Creating More Emphasis Vocally
The way in which a leader communicates orally in professional settings carries a lot of meaning. Tone, pitch, grammar, and vocabulary combine to establish credibility and to project confidence. The elusive quality of executive presence is, in part, a reflection of vocal style and choices. Minor variations in pitch can have a dramatic effect on
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The LEGO Critical to Your Organization’s Success
Combining a single solar cell with many other cells is how a solar panel is made. Add many solar panels together, and a solar array soon exists. Many solar arrays become a solar farm, producing a tremendous amount of clean energy. That’s the power of modularity. But it all starts with the single solar cell.
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What Does It Mean for My Team to Win Today?
Asking team members to post whether they have accomplished this priority at the end of the workday is essentially requesting whether they won. Once team members rack up a set of daily wins, they enjoy highlighting their top priority for others and posting the outcome at the end of the day. Just knowing what team…
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When Multiple People Are Accountable to the Same Problem or Outcome
Asking a team to be accountable is a common mistake that frequently undermines performance and produces mediocre outcomes. By insisting that a team or group be accountable, no one takes control and owns the end result. Everyone on the team presumes someone else will drive the bus. When leaders address teams and explain the outcomes…
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Always Practice the Details Prior to Performance
In the early 2000s, a young Chinese pianist named Lang Lang was scheduled to perform at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in a highly anticipated debut. At the time he was considered by many critics to be the most exciting keyboard talent in a generation. In the months leading up to the concert, Lang Lang
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Let People Discover Your Strengths
The humility of not broadcasting a signature strength, combined with the self-confidence it takes to allow others the luxury of learning about it on their own, enhances credibility in a way that strikes people like lightning. They come to believe that anyone who is modest about their greatest strengths might be extraordinary in so many…