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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The Cheerful Pessimist
As the author Edward Abbey once said, “A pessimist is simply an optimist in full possession of the facts.” In reality, good leaders are three parts optimism and one part pessimism. In the words of legendary investor Charlie Munger, this makes them cheerful pessimists. A cheerful pessimist believes getting things done is never easy, and…
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Collecting Ambition
Leaders search for and revere ambitious people. The drive to achieve prized outcomes is an intangible that leaders can’t collect enough of. They know that without team members who possess a significant measure of ambition, achieving extraordinary team goals will be immensely more difficult. So, they select, encourage, and reward those who display the ambition…
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The Signs a Team is Waiting for a Decision or Strategy
As a rule, teams are always wanting and waiting for more clarity from those above. Knowing whatever clarity is potentially missing in their eyes is of critical importance to good leaders. In most cases, teams just need repetition of the existing strategy or goals so they can execute more effectively. But every once in a…
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Interpreting the Feedback to ‘Take a Step Up’
Leaders who offer this feedback do so because they believe the team member is ready for the challenge. They believe strongly in their skills and talents. So, they offer up this request as a motivation and recognition for their potential. The fact that they fail to describe what they mean is now beside the point.…
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Finding Your Purpose in the Service of Others
On occasion, it is the service itself that shows us our passion and purpose. But more typically, navigating the challenges and dilemmas of helping others offers us a lens into what really matters most. What starts out as a selfless act becomes a mutually beneficial exploration, enriching our understanding of who we are and what…
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What Does it Mean to Have Someone’s Back?
What originated as a commitment between soldiers to protect one another from rear attacks during combat has evolved to signify unwavering support and protection in any relationship. Having someone’s back now means to stand up for another person, serving as a defender and protector from threats of any kind. Leaders who display this rare brand…
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How Does a Leader Know If They Have Followership Skills?
Great leadership is about more than achieving extraordinary results. Leaders who value long-term success place the utmost importance on bringing people along as they attain those results. Creating followership is the other side of the leadership coin. Without it, leaders won’t find the ultimate prize of credibility, respect, and trust necessary for sustainable performance. For…
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The Special Conversation Every Team Member Wants to Have With Their Leader
By focusing on who people want to be, what they want to experience, and where they want to land, leaders give team members something only they can provide. The potential impact of this conversation cannot be overstated. Many of the most important things in life are free. They just take some time and genuine interest.…
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The Role of Counterexamples in the Socratic Method
Asking great questions is what great leaders do. To fully incorporate the Socratic Method into their leadership style, the best leaders also understand the importance of counterexamples to further refine thinking about an issue or topic. Counterexamples attempt to disprove or rebut a statement of fact by offering a case or example where the viewpoint…
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Building Credibility Quickly in a New Role
Anytime a leader transitions to a new role, team members unfamiliar with them naturally become fixated on who they are and how they will lead the team. Leaders instinctively know that establishing their credibility quickly with the team is critical to their short- and long-term success. Demonstrating that they are worth following and have the…