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 X-Factor of Humility
The qualities that make us most different are the superpowers of great leadership. Humility is a difference maker.
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Small Promises, Small Lies
People make big inferences from small acts. The leap of judgment others make regarding small promises and lies has real teeth for how people trust or distrust leaders. It goes to prove that choices are never too small to make a difference.
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Divide and Conquer the Knottiest Problems
The algorithm of binary search, or “chop,” popularized by computer scientists reminds us of the power of subtraction in decision making. Binary chop is the process through which we can identify any specific element within an array of options.
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Giving the Proverbial Kick-in-the-Pants Pep Talk
Every once in a great while, an unmotivated team member requires a swift kick in the backside to reenergize their focus. Challenging others to step up, be accountable, and do the job is not a conversation good leaders avoid.
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Never Kiss a Fool
Leaders who select talent or interview candidates should memorize the adage, “Never kiss a fool or let a kiss fool you.”
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Innovation Requires Irreverence
Not long ago, winemaker Sean Thackrey hosted a sommelier at his California vineyard to taste some of his latest wines. When he asked his visitor what he thought of the wines, the sommelier replied that the wines didn’t taste like they were supposed to.
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The Real Reason Good Leaders Take Vacations
Leaders, like all high performers, need to recharge to be on top of their game. But the real reason leaders must take for vacations is for the team.
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Spin the Dominant Voice
A dominant voice during a team discussion often inhibits others from making a contribution and can derail a fruitful exchange. When team members go too far and hijack the conversation, teams don’t make the progress they should. Irritated colleagues learn to wait out the dominant voice, often withdrawing from the discussion.
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A Formula for Leadership Optimism
In the world of leadership, optimism is the drug of choice. When a leader showcases extreme optimism, they hold people spellbound. We feel better about ourselves and our prospects when we experience the optimism only leaders can display. In study after study, we learn that people work harder for, and prefer to follow, optimistic leaders.
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The Difficult Marriage Between Trust and Respect
The Difficult Marriage Between Trust and Respect. Just when we thought there was a simple marriage between two concepts that clearly go hand in hand, we learn upon reflection that our assumptions are not so solid. The complex nature of trust and respect explains, in part, why leadership is so hard. Leaders must give and…