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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Pair Candor With Curiosity
Admitting that you don’t know something signals self-confidence and sincerity to others. This acknowledgement is not the sign of weakness that so many leaders believe it to be. Only leaders who know very little would pretend to know everything all of the time. By acknowledging they don’t know something, a leader shows themselves to be
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Think Circle Not Balance
As metaphors go, the idea of “work-life balance” suggests we face a tradeoff for which there is no perfect answer, only the promise of stability. Being “in balance” is what we strive for, although we implicitly know that equilibrium is hard to attain and even harder to sustain. The “work-life balance” metaphor has been around
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Create Like Picasso
Just in case you’re feeling particularly productive this week, consider a comparison to Pablo Picasso. The Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist lived for a total of 33,380 days. Born in 1881, he became one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century. He died in 1973. Picasso was otherworldly productive. During his lifetime, he
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Can’t Duck This Convo
Telling people that they are not succeeding and must find another role or position is one of the hardest things for good leaders to do. Unfortunately, the gap between skill and ambition can be wide for some people. Worse, it’s often without them even realizing it. Ducking this conversation puts everyone at risk. Having this
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Are You a Great Follower?
Before asking someone if they will follow you, ask yourself first: Would you follow you? Think about the qualities you must possess to be worthy of followership. Make a list. Reflect upon whether you strive to display those qualities every day. Being competent is essential — but not enough. The same goes for being sincere, authentic,
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Gratitude Is the Ultimate Compounder
One of life’s most amazing facts is this: You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time. Try it, and you’ll soon see. We talked about this a few weeks ago. Any time you chose to be grateful, whatever unhappiness you might be experiencing evaporates. If someone you lead is experiencing unhappiness, remind them
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Show Me the Incentives
A few decades ago, Spencer Johnson wrote a surprisingly simple book entitled Who Moved My Cheese? The book explains why people resist change. It’s one of the all-time bestselling business books. Let me suggest the title of the sequel. A sequel which could easily capture the minds and hearts of anyone interested in understanding what makes people
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Find an Anti-Model
Finding a role model to emulate is a grand way to become a better leader. But for my money, I would encourage you to find an anti-model instead. A leader you don’t want to resemble in any way. First off, they are much easier to find than role models. Secondly, you will learn more from
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Real Candor May Require a Warning
Recently, we spent time observing a leader who said to his audiences on several occasions: “Let me be honest with you.” He then proceeded to be direct and frank. The simple expression of, “I’ll be honest with you,” or the question, “Can I be honest with you?” is not meant to suggest the leader is
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Presume a Meaningful Relationship
Have you ever wondered what makes politicians so good with a small group of people? Successful politicians learn quickly to presume a meaningful relationship with everyone in the room and to act thusly. “So nice to see you!” “How is everything with you?” “You look great.” “How is everything going?” “What’s new with you lately?”