Field notes
Field Notes
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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How Important Is This to You?
If you have ever wondered how a conflict exploded over a seemingly trivial matter or action, it’s because it wasn’t inconsequential to them.
When people bring issues to your attention to discuss or resolve, it’s a good idea to ask them this question before attending to it: How important is this to you?
Self-deprecation does more than display humility. Leaders who take jabs at themselves create more trust and connection with others. This is because self-deprecation disarms people and makes leaders more relatable and personable. People tend to trust leaders they find more likable.
The question every performer must ask themselves is: What are the fundamental drills and exercises I should commit to no matter how successful I become? The best performers don’t go back to basics for the simple reason that they never abandon them in the first place.
Good leaders are caring, thoughtful, and candid when giving feedback to team members. Through their feedback and advice, they attempt to amplify a team member’s strengths and help them to change or overcome their weaknesses. On occasion, a team member receiving their leader’s feedback disagrees with it and chooses not to act on it. This independence is reasonable unless the focus of the feedback concerns actions or behaviors that are having a negative impact on others.
Celebrating yourself as you hold up others and recognize their accomplishments is more common than leaders think. The statement, “I knew this would happen when you finally took my advice,” is a prime and common example.
Leaders are obligated to make the right call, no matter how unpopular it is or what pressure they face from outside or inside forces. Unfortunately, the pressure to bend to a vocal minority that maintains a persistent drumbeat is often very real and can wear down even the best of leaders.
People are shaped by a unique blend of biology, experiences, and environment. Some things about them are highly malleable, while other features are more permanent.
In other words, some personal attributes can be changed while other qualities can’t. Understanding this distinction is crucial for leadership success.