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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Hero Leaders Believe Every Issue Needs Them
A leader with a strong sense of purpose, extreme confidence in their decision-making abilities, extraordinarily high standards for excellence, and a clear vision of how to single-handedly steer any project to success is often called a “Hero Leader.” Despite many positive qualities, the label isn’t typically a compliment. The problem with Hero Leaders is that…
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Striking a Power Pose Before Performance
Staring at yourself in the mirror and giving yourself a pep talk while striking a power pose is more common than you think. Although many of the world’s most accomplished performers might not admit it, they, too, strike a power pose on occasion to elevate their confidence prior to performance. Give it a try sometime…
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When We Treat What We Do as a Craft
The pride and satisfaction people experience from doing a job well is etched deep into the human psyche. People are self-motivated to do good work. Those enlightened by a higher vision go a step further. They strive to excel for the personal gratification and self-respect they experience, not for the material or social rewards associated…
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Incorporating ‘Worked Examples’ Into the Onboarding Process
One way to judge the quality of an organization’s onboarding process is by how quickly new team members are ready to contribute. The sooner the new team member is ready to make an impact, the better the onboarding process. Learning to solve problems and pursue opportunities in a new workplace requires context and practice. That’s
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The Optimism In Gratefulness
People prefer to follow optimistic leaders. Leaders who display confidence in the future and predict individual and team success energize others. Their positive outlook and encouraging attitude towards challenges and opportunities motivate the team to view setbacks and failures as temporary. Because they focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems, others find them…
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Leader Who Take More Than Their Fair Share
Some leaders take more than their fair share. They make the conscious decision to help themselves to resources, perquisites, and financial gains, sometimes at the expense of others. They honestly believe they have earned the right to an extra helping of privileges. They convince themselves that others won’t know, and even if they did, they
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Schedule the Meeting Before Completing the Work
People are incredibly busy. So much so that scheduling meetings and calls is becoming increasingly difficult. Add multiple people to that meeting, and it is nearly impossible to find a time that works for everyone anytime soon. The mistake not to make is waiting to schedule the meeting.
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Why Bad Behavior Becomes a Pattern in a Relationship
Relationships are guided by a large set of unspoken rules. These rules (how candid we can be, when we can interrupt, etc.) allow the parties to interact harmoniously and productively, and without unnecessary conflict. Rules govern almost everything that happens in a relationship. Without them, the parties would be in a constant state of ambiguity…
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Becoming More Productive 10 Minutes at a Time
What if you were to focus on one 10-minute block at a time? With every 10-minute block you engage more productively, you make yourself more effective. Find 10 minutes today to do something uncommonly well. Now find another 10 minutes to do it again. Productivity is never an accident. Every 10 minutes can count.
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Be Careful Not to Let Self-Assessments Harm Your Personal Development
It is a tragedy when the results of a self-assessment test rob people of the desire and willingness to do better. Do your best to learn everything you can about yourself. A deeper understanding is essential for becoming the best version of yourself, and self-assessments can assist you in that process. But don’t allow what…