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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Developing an Ethic of Accountability
Great leaders are different in subtle ways. They present themselves differently, ask questions others don’t ask, and balance short and long-term goals masterfully. Perhaps most distinctive about them is the view they have about responsibility. Over the course of their lives, they have created an ethic of accountability for themselves.
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How Many Roberts Do You Know?
As personal networks expand during a career, so do learning opportunities, job offers, invitations to attend life-shaping events, and occasions to be a part of special experiences. Who you know really matters, and as your network grows, so does the probability of good fortune. So, estimating the size of your personal network and those of
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Waiting for Inspiration
Some gnarly tasks and problems require inspiration to be addressed or solved. They are primed for a brand-new solution…if only one came to mind. Without some creative insight or flight of imagination, progress becomes slowed or stalled. Inspiration is often the missing ingredient in solving a problem. Without it, leaders can’t propel the team, or…
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Lubricating the Mind and Body Before Performance
Lubricating the Mind and Body Before Performance. All high performers share a common goal. They all want to be their best each time they enter the arena, wherever that might be. Without a consistent warmup routine to lubricate the mind and body and to boost self-confidence, even talented and highly polished professionals will find it…
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Taking Charge Is Not About Getting Your Way
Those who must take charge falsely believe that without them things won’t happen. The bias for action gets translated to only I know the right actions to take. Taking charge when the situation calls for it is very different from the need to get your own way. The former is an act of leadership. The…
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Gather a Piece of Everyone You Admire
Over the course of the next few days, think deeply about the many people you admire, respect, and enjoy. Find one small piece of each of them that is worth emulating. Push beyond the superficial and attempt to identify a specific action, behavior, expression, or response that is worth adopting. Work hard to create a…
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Learning to Think on Your Feet
The mental agility to quickly process information and to respond instantaneously is a highly prized skill. When put on the spot or asked an unanticipated question, the ability to think on your feet and respond in real-time with a clever or pointed answer suggests a powerful mind. Leaders who exhibit this skill in any conversation…
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The Tyranny of the Vocal But Minor Voice
Vocal and unhappy people attract more unhappy people, who then become more vocal. A team can be turned upside down if those on the crusade are allowed a way into the everyday conversation. Unlike the crusaders, good leaders recognize that differences divide the team, while common values bind the team together. Celebrating what team members…
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Organizing Meetings Around Questions Instead of Topics
Organizing Meetings Around Questions Instead of Topics. Any topic, problem, or issue can be stated as a question, and any agenda can be organized as a set of questions. Meetings, agendas, and topics organized by questions create a more vibrant dialogue between team members. When sent in advance, the questions posed in the agenda stimulate…
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People Who Project Their Own Flaws Onto Others
People with deep insecurities have a peculiar habit. They commonly project those insecurities onto others. In other words, whatever flaw they struggle with is often the focus of their behavior with others. For instance, leaders who ridicule others about their lack of confidence often struggle with their own self-confidence. Similarly, colleagues who struggle with holding…