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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Turn Your Harshest Critics Into Coaches
Colleagues, family members, and leaders can be highly critical of our performance at times. Those who are somewhat less tactful and constructive let their criticism be known through complaints, eye rolls, and general negative statements. “You don’t seem to be able to finish your thoughts.” “The client didn’t seem engaged when you were presenting.” “You…
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Those Who Coach Others Are More Receptive to Feedback
Those Who Coach Others Are More Receptive to Feedback. Developing the talents, skills, and knowledge of team members is not a solo act for team leaders. Without the help of the entire team to pitch in and assist with ongoing improvement, not enough attention and enhancement take place. On the best teams, peers serve as…
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Leaders Spread Behaviors Like Germs
The best leaders are conscious about the impact their behaviors have on others. They don’t give themselves a break from serving as a role model for the behaviors they want to see from others. In particular, good leaders are attuned to what they decline, avoid, ignore, and dismiss. They know others are watching and will…
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Leaders Can Carry Too Much Truth Through Humor
How many consultants does it take to change a light bulb? The answer is 100. One to change the light bulb and 99 others to describe how they could have done it better. If you found that joke even remotely funny, it’s likely you recognize the small truth in it. Too many consultants think they
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Establishing a New Team Norm
Establishing a New Team Norm. The unwritten rules that guide team interaction are more powerful than most leaders realize. Because they shape how team members work and make decisions together, norms have a tremendous influence on team effectiveness. Without a clear understanding of which behaviors are valued by the group and which are to be…
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Great Leaders Know When to Follow
A critically important moment in any team occurs when a leader is wise enough to know that they need to follow instead of lead on an issue or initiative. This doesn’t mean they simply defer to those with more subject expertise or give decision rights to those with more experience on the issue. Instead, they…
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Tell Your Leader When You’re About to Disagree With Them
Disagreeing with your leader can result in a wide variety of reactions depending on how they lead, how secure they are as people, and how status-conscious they are. Weak leaders have a difficult time when a team member has the “audacity” to disagree with them. Their preference to have everyone follow their lead and get…
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The More We Get Rejected, The More We Succeed.
Good leaders don’t accept rejection or feel immune to its bite. Quite the contrary. They attempt to learn what they can from it and do their best to avoid letting its discomfort take too much of their energy. They know that success is a consequence of how many times they are willing to be rejected.…
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Do You Need to Change the Culture Before Changing the Strategy?
The best leaders don’t talk about the need to change the culture to set the groundwork for a new strategy. When a misalignment exists, they simply go to work. Their best bet is to go to the heart of culture. They attempt to influence the day-to-day practices that shape how team members interact with each…
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Why We Resist Demand and Commands
If a sign reads “DO NOT TOUCH,” the immediate reaction from those reading it is to reach out and do the opposite. It’s amazing how powerful the need is to resist any restriction of our personal freedoms. People have more than a distaste for being told what to do. They bristle at the thought of