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 Should a Leader Be Directive?
Good leaders are much more facilitative than directive. They work hard to discuss, explore, and engage with people as opposed to simply telling them what to do. They understand that including team members in the decision process, even about work assignments, produces greater commitment and superior results. But there are times and conditions that demand…
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Leading Team Members Who Start Out Strong But Fizzle Out Over Time
Team members who start out strong, demonstrate their skills through results, and appear to settle comfortably into the culture are a big win for leaders. But over time, these capable people sometimes lose their momentum, begin to underperform, and seem very different from the persona they projected early on. Leading team members who begin powerfully…
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Strategy Is the Art of Sacrifice
Strategy Is the Art of Sacrifice
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Experience Doesn’t Always Translate Into Expertise
The key takeaway is that two people with the same tenure can differ tremendously in actual expertise. Leaders must explore the difference. Is it 20 years of experience, or two weeks of experience over 20 years? The answer requires careful inquiry and a rejection of the notion that experience alone distinguishes expertise or wisdom.
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Proof Over Persuasion: NASA’s Unlikely Path to Organizational Transformation
Strong cultures, long-established bureaucratic processes, and ingrained work practices are highly resistant to change, even when it is painfully obvious that a complete transformation is the only way to avoid ruin or demise. This is especially true if the organization has a history of success and enjoys a strong reputation. When trying to change an…
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Why Leaders Must Withhold Judgment to Unlock Team Creativity
It turns out the sequence in which evaluation enters the creative process is not a minor procedural detail.
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Leading the Coin-Operated Team Member
Leading the Coin-Operated Team Member
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The Need to Separate Criticism From Authority
Separate Criticism From Authority
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Steal the Principle, Not the Playbook
Steal the Principle, Not the Playbook
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People Often Resist a Decision Solely Because of How It Was Made
Leaders who invest in transparent, inclusive, and respectful processes build a reservoir of trust that makes every decision land more smoothly. The bottom line is this: Leaders who remember that the decision process is the message get more done.