Every ‘Yes’ Is A ‘No’ To Something Else
There is one simple and universal truth that, while clearly undeniable, often goes unnoticed or intentionally ignored by leaders especially. That truth is this: Every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else. Think about it. If you say yes to staying late, you're saying no...
The Value of Checking In
With all due respect to The Godfather and a healthy fear of the mafia, Micheal Corleone got it wrong. I mean, come on -- if you’re about to kill me for business, I'm gonna take that pretty personally, dontcha think? "It's not personal, it's strictly business.”...
On Not Taking It Personally
When you oversee a team, certain things can start to feel pretty personal. Say you've got an employee who's been with you for years. You enjoy working with them, they do great work, and you're confident they're happy with their job. Then one day, they come into your...
When It’s Time For Stairs
The timing is perfect, really. Through the years in this newsletter, you've heard about a few different home projects I've undertaken. One in particular I've waited to do until now: the stairs. Stairs are a tricky project, for lots of reasons. First of all, they're...
Why Do It Yourself?
In this country, most of us have been thoroughly ingrained with a 'bootstrap' mentality: we pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We do it ourselves! Leaders are especially prone to this mentality. And don't get me wrong; there are some things only you can do, and...
“Leadership Training Isn’t Really Worth It, Is It?”
I don’t think it was meant as an insult; it was a fair question, after all. All of them had been through countless trainings through the years. And in the end, we’re very motivated -- but very little changes. The changes that do come seem to come at a glacial...
They Can’t See What They’re Not Looking For
Recently, a manager shared with me how she made suggestions to a team member — who in turn took none of the suggestions, and instead made the situation worse. What’s more fascinating is that this team member actually did the very thing they were criticizing someone...
When Your Team Complains To You
A lot of empathetic and “Merchant” (see CVI) type leaders will feel lost when they have team members coming into their office to complain about one another, or to express frustration with the way another behaved in a meeting. As these leaders bring these examples to...
An Environment for Goals
If you’ll remember, I’ve been working on a couple paddleboards for my daughter and I. And the very last step — the final touch — is that final glossy finish. But I’m finding something frustrating: I pour the epoxy, and it looks AMAZING. Gorgeous. Liquid glass. I leave...
Let’s Talk About Meetings
Holy Crap! Can you believe it’s 2022!? Well, it’s a new year, and I'm already behind schedule. We all want to save time, right? So let’s address that ginormous time-suck: The Dreaded Meeting. How often do you gather for a meeting — whether in a virtual or physical...
