Are you into leadership because of the power, the role, the status, or because of the challenges, the responsibility, the people that allow you to lead? It seems like a trivial question, and the answer is probably, for most, somewhat in the middle. But I can't count the leaders who stop at the prestige and … Continue reading Would you take it?
Category: culture
Silence
Silence makes us uncomfortable. Yet without silence there is no listening. We spend entire conversations just waiting for out turn to speak, trying to cut the others short because our idea, our understanding, our experience is better, talking over each other, filling reflective pauses with jokes or irrelevant thoughts, getting annoyed because everyone is taking … Continue reading Silence
Opposition
We often find meaning and identity in opposition. Groups get stronger when they are attacked. Their members feel closer to each other when there is a stranger around, and they find agreement when the topic is a different group. And the more we are weak, the more this happens with intensity and fervour. The less … Continue reading Opposition
The helper
You can't fight fear. You cannot pretend it is not there, you cannot walk past it, turn a blind eye to it, give it another name, a different guise, a more appealing shape. You can't run from it, outpace it, hide in the shadow of your strenghts and possessions. That is where fear will eventually … Continue reading The helper
Beg, demand, or sell
When you ask for something, there are three way to go about that. You can beg, and that is moved by fear. Fear of missing a deadline, of losing your job, of being misrepresented, of being misunderstood, of failing, of making mistakes. You can demand, and that is moved by power. Power is fluid, and … Continue reading Beg, demand, or sell
Outbursts
If you can delay your actions for just a few minutes, hold off your come back until the next break, take a couple of deep breaths, put the computer aside late in the afternoon and sleep on the issue. Then you will find yourself focusing on the content rather than the emotion. And when you … Continue reading Outbursts
My door is always open
If your door is always open, you should go out in the world and see what's going on. Way to often the open door is a lazy excuse. Sure, come to me with your questions, doubts, concerns, just don't expect me to ask first. Because, well, you do not care. We keep reading of how … Continue reading My door is always open
Fan
If you want people around you to be motivated, be their fan. Cheer for them, clap for them, believe in them. Tell them they will be successful. Find what they are good at and nudge them. Promote them, advocate for their cause, put their work forward, write them references, and be their marketing department. Particularly … Continue reading Fan
What question
What are the next steps? Do I get to be involved? These are two questions, or is it actually one? We could ask what is our real intention. If we are genuinely curious about the next steps, then we should just stop at the first question.If we want to know if we need to allocate … Continue reading What question
The golden mean
I bought this yesterday, what do you think? Do you like my new haircut? I heard you were at my presentation, did you enjoy it? Honesty is a wonderful thing, but if you have ever had to answer the questions above (or any of their variations) you know that honesty has its dark side. Actually, … Continue reading The golden mean
