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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Organizations Don’t Learn. People Inside of Them Do.
Organizations Don’t Learn. People Inside of Them Do. If you would benefit greatly from the working principles and learnings of prior leaders in your organization but can’t lay your hands on anything that outlines them, perhaps it is time to stop the leakage of this institutional knowledge and chart a different path for learning. Document…
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What Does It Mean to Be Fully Prepared
The basics of preparation are well-known to good leaders and top performers. We don’t consider ourselves prepared for any event, situation, or upcoming performance until we establish the goals we want to achieve and have settled on the strategy and tactics that will enable us to succeed. Having a clear plan of action for any…
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As a Last Resort, Consider Exclusion to Reinvigorate a Wayward Team Member
Team members sometimes act defiantly when they are protected by bureaucracy, a senior mentor, a critical client relationship, or deep institutional knowledge. They come to believe they are immune from termination or sanction. They do what they want when they want to do it, ignore the team leader, and set their own course. In the…
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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…