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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Every Decision Has a Clock
Experienced leaders and decision-makers know that the timing of a decision can be as critical as the choice itself. All major decisions come with a hidden clock. It is up to the decision-maker to determine the ideal moment to make and execute the decision or face the unfavorable consequences associated with poor timing. Those repercussions…
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On Developing Leadership Character
Research over the last few decades has replaced the historic view of character as fixed and immutable to change with a more dynamic view of character dimensions that evolve over time. Ample evidence supports the idea that character can be strengthened, amplified, and fortified. We can develop and improve character by the everyday choices we…
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Influencing the Arc of People’s Lives Without Knowing It
The power of leadership to influence the course of others’ lives goes far beyond enhancing job satisfaction and shaping careers. Leaders, coaches, teachers, and parents say and do things that sometimes have major, long-term ramifications on the well-being of those they lead. Unnoticed at the time and typically unknown until decades later, some of the…
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The Terror of Taking Yourself Too Seriously
Working hard to achieve great outcomes is a serious business. No one achieves sustained success without a healthy dose of focus and urgency. The seriousness with which leaders apply themselves, treating even the smallest details as important, allows them to produce exceptional results. A serious and weighty approach to results is a tremendous asset when…
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The Problem With Perfectionism
The Problem With Perfectionism. Expecting more from yourself and others is a push even highly motivated people need on occasion. But don’t confuse challenge with demand. Pursuit and insistence are very different directives. Challenge creates energy while perfectionism destroys it.
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Leaders Who Hide Behind Their Intentions Don’t Apologize Often Enough
Like everyone else, leaders occasionally cross boundaries, say hurtful things, and break relationship rules. Those affected by those transgressions expect and deserve an apology. Leaders who say they are sorry bring closure to the mistake or mishap and reaffirm the rules of the relationship. Apologies also heighten self-awareness and strengthen a leader’s resolve not to give in to the
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What Qualifies You as an Expert?
Those with a command of the facts but without the ability to use them to predict the future will be seen as knowledgeable but not expert. As you continue to develop your expertise, work at becoming more accurate about what elements or factors matter most in any given situation. Then, begin to use those elements…
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Rewarding Disagreement
Good leaders encourage those around them to disagree, candidly offering an opposing view whenever they have one. They explicitly tell colleagues they want their disagreement, and they do their best to embolden them by tempering their reactions to any opposing viewpoints. Asking them to expound on their thinking before debating the merits demonstrates the leader’s…
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When to Say No to an Opportunity
In so many cases, knowing which opportunities to pursue and which to decline defines long-term success. Becoming a good judge of good fortune requires principles that can better guide your choices. Perhaps you can add to the touchstones above. The key is to know what you’re looking for before it knocks on your door.
