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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Tour de France: The Ultimate Display of Teamwork
The Tour de France, the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Cycling Tours, is underway. This annual multi-stage bicycle race across the French countryside has been held yearly since 1903 and draws fans from across the world. Conducted in stages over 23 days (some years 24), the race includes narrow roads, sharp turns,…
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If a Leader Had Only One Question They Could Ask
What is the most powerful question a leader can ask? A question so insightful that it would display leadership in almost any context or situation. A question that projects respect, value, empowerment, and trust. In the world of questions for leaders, it isn’t even close. “What can we learn from this?” is a good guess.…
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The Fine Line Between High Engagement and Micromanagement
Leaders who go beyond traditional oversight, who dig into the details underlying a task, and direct how the assignment should be completed are said to be micromanaging the project and the people involved. If this is the style in which they commonly lead others to get things done, they deserve the label of micromanager. Micromanagers monitor
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Have You Ever Met Someone Who Is Very Funny and Isn’t Smart?
Not every smart person is funny or witty. Some brilliant people are deadly serious and have subtle dry humor, if they have any at all. But truly funny and witty people share a common quality. It takes real brainpower to be exceptionally funny. Funny people are smart.
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Asking Team Members to Carry on the Legacy
Sharing the history of a company, school, or enterprise with current team members deepens understanding and connects the past to the present and future. But in the hands of a skilled leader, that history can be a gold mine of motivation and pride. Team members crave a sense of permanence, prideful identity, and belonging. Leaders who
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Leaders Who Can’t One Day See Themselves Working for Any of Their Team Members
Leaders Who Can’t One Day See Themselves Working for Any of Their Team Members. Leadership on a team and the talent a leader attracts go hand-in-hand. Highly talented team members seek to work under the guidance of an experienced, confident, and strategic leader who puts the team above their own self-interests.
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The Problem of Celebrating Short-Term Milestones
Common advice for contemporary leaders is to learn how to celebrate before the project or initiative comes to a favorable conclusion. Celebrating short-term milestones and wins provides immediate motivation, boosts morale, and helps to sustain momentum during longer, challenging projects.
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In Search of Excellence
Excellence is a standard many people aspire to but can’t achieve. It’s not because they lack the will or skill to accomplish great things. It’s more about what discipline and learning it takes to reach the highest standard and sustain it. The foundation for the highest competence in any role or skill is aptitude, knowledge,…
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The Foundational Importance of Executive Functioning
Executive Functioning refers to higher-level cognitive skills that allow people to manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. Not surprisingly, those with strong Executive Functioning are better able to adapt to new situations and solve problems they have never encountered before.
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Great Leaders Don’t Just Select Talent, They Ensemble It
Some leaders are great judges of talent. Using their deep experience and a well-developed template of salient qualities, they focus on attributes others miss or overlook. Through questions, observations, and secret tests, they spot extraordinary potential before anyone else does, sometimes even before the performers themselves. Their track record for selecting outstanding performers is plainly…