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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Ask the Audience to Experience Your Message Directly
Asking audience members to stand and complete a task (such as point to True North) or turn to the person sitting next to them and engage in a brief activity (such as examining how they make a fist) can make a message come alive. When audiences are asked to complete a task with a prop,…
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Focusing Feedback on What Others Are Capable Of
Good leaders know exactly what team members are capable of and concentrate their efforts on assessment and feedback that matters. They do their best to eliminate judgments about qualities and skills that team members are unlikely to make progress on. This same commitment applies to family members, friends, and peers, as well. Stop expecting people…
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The Price of Leadership
Leaders who themselves can’t accept feedback cause grave concern about their ability to lead others. To avoid this doubt, smart leaders take a different tack when they disagree with feedback from their own leader. Instead of disagreeing or arguing with their leader, they ask a clarifying question or two and ask for time to digest…
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When Leaders Themselves Are Defensive to Feedback
Leaders who themselves can’t accept feedback cause grave concern about their ability to lead others. To avoid this doubt, smart leaders take a different tack when they disagree with feedback from their own leader. Instead of disagreeing or arguing with their leader, they ask a clarifying question or two and ask for time to digest…
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When Asking for Advice Is the Highest Form of Respect
Anyone who witnesses the request now knows how highly you regard this person and their views. When that regard is true, why not make a point of showing others how you feel? Perhaps nothing creates more recognition than this easy choice. Saying “Do you have a minute? I’d like your take on something that’s been…
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Why Overweighing Loyalty to People Can Lead to Horrific Decisions
The next time you observe or read about a decision that seems so obviously bad that is unfathomable why a leader made such a choice, consider that loyalty to a person probably warped the decision-making process. Do your best to commit more highly to what is best for the enterprise over what is best for…
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When Criticizing, Good Leaders Separate the Person From the Opinion
Debating the merits of an opinion, idea, or proposal would be a lot easier if people didn’t take criticisms personally. But, they do. People have an exceedingly difficult time separating their opinions from their personal identities. As a result, any criticism or negative feedback regarding their viewpoints is often considered a personal attack. The more…
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Why a Reputation for Fairness Makes Feedback More Impactful
When it comes to receiving feedback, team members respond differently to leaders they believe are fair. Rather than debate the criticisms or suggestions they might believe are inaccurate, team members reflect on what fair leaders recommend and take it to heart. They presume there is always a nugget of insight in what fair leaders suggest.…
