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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When Advocacy Crosses the Line
Good leaders are strong advocates, confident in their views, and have an ability to persuade others through sound and compelling arguments. Persuasive advocates believe deeply in what they are proposing and marshal passion and enthusiasm to make their case. Passion sells, but it can sometimes go too far. Without meaning to, strong and passionate advocates
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Connecting Goals to Criticism Shows Others You’re Trying to Help and Not Hurt Them
People don’t separate the content of feedback from the person giving it. The source of the feedback we receive is as important as the message itself. People judge the value of the feedback almost entirely on who is delivering it. Once those receiving the feedback conclude that the giver has the experience, skill, and context…
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The Country Club Mindset
Why are so many clubs, volunteer organizations, and member-centric associations so poorly run? Despite the fact that there is nothing about the nature of such organizations that prevents them from being well managed and led, national surveys show that a minority of member-oriented institutions are viewed as being effectively managed and operated compared to other…
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For the Hopelessly Impatient
Impatient people simply can’t wait. They want to hear the news, achieve the outcome, and talk through the problem right NOW. They’ve been told repeatedly over the years that they need to slow down, “hold their horses,” and accept what they cannot control. But they find waiting painful. Their intolerance for delay makes them anxious…
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How Are Others Interpreting What You Say and Do?
A popular maxim among communication professionals is that people “cannot NOT communicate.” This adage refers to the idea that others interacting with you will draw meaning from everything you say and do, whether you want them to or not. All behavior is a form of communication, even when you are silent or not actively trying…
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Know Your Worth
The value of expertise is uneven and hard to measure. Those with the experience, know-how, street smarts, and acumen to apply their knowledge to important problems and opportunities will always be in high demand. In many cases, these experts demand an unusually high dollar for their wisdom, opinions, or solutions, and people still line up…
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Developing Team Members With a Proactive Attitude
Every leader wants a team of proactive colleagues who anticipate needs, issues, and opportunities and step up to address them without being asked. By anticipating problems, roadblocks, and opportunities and acting on them before they arise, proactive team members make life easier for leaders and for each other. Proactive team members develop an eye for
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Show Respect by Asking Others to Go First
How team meetings begin sets the tone for the engagement, positivity, and energy shared by the group. How team meetings end shapes what the team will remember and solidifies team member commitment to next steps and actions. Yet, most leaders don’t think very strategically about these important time-bound bookends. As such, they miss a crucial…
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Powerful Beginnings and Endings for Team Meetings
How team meetings begin sets the tone for the engagement, positivity, and energy shared by the group. How team meetings end shapes what the team will remember and solidifies team member commitment to next steps and actions. Yet, most leaders don’t think very strategically about these important time-bound bookends. As such, they miss a crucial…
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“You Owe It To Yourself”
Leaders sometimes need to prod people to put their own interests above the expectations of others. These hard-working team members, colleagues and friends need a leader to remind them that sometimes it is okay to focus on their own needs and goals rather than putting others first. Leaders turn to a well-worn phrase to get