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 Truth Is More Palatable When We Discover It For Ourselves
Evaluation, feedback, and advice that do not corroborate our thoughts about ourselves and our performance are always difficult to swallow. No matter how self-aware a person is, we cling to our perceptions and seek confirmation to validate our views. Any time criticism contradicts our view, it shakes us up. We initially resist. Could this possibly…
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Inside Every Complaint Is a Request
People complain for many reasons. When things don’t go as planned or expected, complaints are a common way to let frustration with the situation be known to others. People also complain to have others validate their grievances and stand in solidarity with their dissatisfaction. Gaining support from allies who see events and outcomes similarly makes…
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You Might Be a Micromanager If…
So, here is our list of 10 humorous but insightful “tells” of micromanagers: You might be a micromanager if people sit and wait for your instructions so they don’t make the mistakes your Gantt chart predicts they will. …
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Star Teammates Don’t Fall From The Sky
Star teammates are rare. Good leaders aren’t threatened by them in the least. They embrace them, reward them, and hope their dedication to the team rubs off on others. How many star teammates are on your team? They don’t exist without the support of leaders who view them as an asset and not competition.
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Organizations Don’t Learn. People Inside of Them Do.
Organizations Don’t Learn. People Inside of Them Do. If you would benefit greatly from the working principles and learnings of prior leaders in your organization but can’t lay your hands on anything that outlines them, perhaps it is time to stop the leakage of this institutional knowledge and chart a different path for learning. Document…
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What Does It Mean to Be Fully Prepared
The basics of preparation are well-known to good leaders and top performers. We don’t consider ourselves prepared for any event, situation, or upcoming performance until we establish the goals we want to achieve and have settled on the strategy and tactics that will enable us to succeed. Having a clear plan of action for any…
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As a Last Resort, Consider Exclusion to Reinvigorate a Wayward Team Member
Team members sometimes act defiantly when they are protected by bureaucracy, a senior mentor, a critical client relationship, or deep institutional knowledge. They come to believe they are immune from termination or sanction. They do what they want when they want to do it, ignore the team leader, and set their own course. In the…
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Turn Your Harshest Critics Into Coaches
Colleagues, family members, and leaders can be highly critical of our performance at times. Those who are somewhat less tactful and constructive let their criticism be known through complaints, eye rolls, and general negative statements. “You don’t seem to be able to finish your thoughts.” “The client didn’t seem engaged when you were presenting.” “You…
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Those Who Coach Others Are More Receptive to Feedback
Those Who Coach Others Are More Receptive to Feedback. Developing the talents, skills, and knowledge of team members is not a solo act for team leaders. Without the help of the entire team to pitch in and assist with ongoing improvement, not enough attention and enhancement take place. On the best teams, peers serve as…
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Leaders Spread Behaviors Like Germs
The best leaders are conscious about the impact their behaviors have on others. They don’t give themselves a break from serving as a role model for the behaviors they want to see from others. In particular, good leaders are attuned to what they decline, avoid, ignore, and dismiss. They know others are watching and will…