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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Ambitious Goals Work for Teams But Not for Individual Habits
Setting ambitious goals for a team or organization motivates people to perform and serves as a guide for leaders to invest the time, resources, and energy necessary to achieve them. Stretch goals, as they are often called, push team members to reach their highest potential. In many cases, even when the team doesn’t achieve what…
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Learning From Famous Decision-Makers
One reason biographies of famous leaders are so popular among those who want to excel is that they rarely get the chance to see other leaders make decisions. As a result, their learning about decision-making is somewhat stunted.
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The Power of Nearing the Finish Line
Marathon runners normally run the 26th mile faster than most of the miles preceding it. Theoretically, they should have depleted their energy reserves and be at their slowest, yet they consistently run the last portion of the race at a faster speed. When runners can see or sense the finish line, they make a final…
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Are You a Courageous Delegator?
Leaders who entrust team members with significant new responsibilities, the authority to make decisions, and the autonomy to complete projects without seeking approval when those colleagues are not quite ready for the challenge can be said to have engaged in courageous delegation. Are You a Courageous Delegator?
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Teaching Team Members to Care About Customers and Clients
Teaching team members to care isn’t about asking them to be more curious or to take a genuine interest in customers and clients. They think they already do that, even when they don’t. Instead, good leaders ask for proof. And the proof is in what they know about specific customers and clients, not in what…
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Good Leaders Are Easy to Please But Hard to Satisfy
Leaders who are easy to please but hard to satisfy motivate others to produce their best work. The healthy balance of positive reinforcement and continuous improvement creates a dynamic work climate that team members want to be a part of. People feel appreciated but know they must continue to strive for more. That’s the reality…
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Decisions Against Consensus Can’t Be Because You’re Smarter Than Everyone Else
Decisions Against Consensus Can’t Be Because You’re Smarter Than Everyone Else
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The 24-Hour Rule of Celebration and Mourning
The 24-Hour Rule of Celebration and Mourning
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When Processing Email Stands for Productivity
Email overload is all too real for many leaders. But setting boundaries regarding when to check your inbox and how much time you’re willing to commit to do so is essential for fighting overload. Consider mastering the use of email filters and templates to assist in your effort. The bottom line is that processing emails…
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The Pain of Leaving Your Team for Another Opportunity
Good leaders feel a deep responsibility for the team they have helped to create. Loyalty to individual team members and the team itself is top of mind when new opportunities arise. The idea of leaving colleagues who have sacrificed for the team leader and were often recruited by them appears particularly self-serving and disloyal. So…