Category: culture

The art of saying something

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There are a few things an organization should consider if they decide to release a statement, publish a social media post, say something about the events of these days.

First, make sure the words shared are considered and consistent. Nobody needs more rage, nobody wants your organization to use this to clean their slate or take the spotlight.

Second, understand that you will have to take a stand. Now is not the time for long sentences, ambiguous words, balancing acts, politics and public relations.

Third, appreciate that silence is just a fake option. You might decide against going public with your thoughts, and in doing that you are clearly signalling what your organisation stands for.

Hear the noes

FabrizioLeave a comment

It is up to you to set expectations with those around you.

If you are a leader, this means setting expectations first and foremost with those you report to (upper management, executives, board). Expectations on what can be achieved, in which time frame, at what cost. Saying yes at all cost, whatever the reason for it, will just put you in a situation where all you can accept from those who report to you is a resounding and enthusiastic “yes!”. And a “yes” – perhaps not resounding, perhaps not enthusiastic – is all you are going to get. Ever.

It is the perfect recipe for failure.

Defuse

Fabrizio1 Comment

Caught in the heat of an argument, the challenge is to find the lucidity to defuse. Do that while you are in a position of power, and you will have made real progress.

Going head against head, second guessing, paying back, raising your voice, smashing and controlling. Those are short-lived strategies that will just feed into the next argument.

What is strength?

Sparkles and glitter

FabrizioLeave a comment

As long as you keep running from boring, repetitive, uninteresting, unrewarding, uneventful, average, your chances of actually mastering something are going to be very limited. There’s a wrong perception that success is equivalent to sparkles and glitter, but that only comes after (if at all), and it does not usually lasts for very long.

Find ways to get accustomed to the 99% of your life and suddenly you’ll be a much better human being, parent, partner, leader, or anything else you aim to be.

New leaders

FabrizioLeave a comment

How do you communicate with your team? This is an excellent example.

That does not mean you have to be a mum and make jokes about the smell of your child’s nappies. It’s about understanding the situation, being able to show your vulnerabilities and reminding yourself that literally no one in your team (whether it’s 5 or 5 million people) expects you to be a god-like creature with all the answers to all the questions.

The idea that as leaders we are flawless, unwavering and enlightened is out-of-date and makes more harm than good day after day. It’s time to promote new types of leadership. And already it feels we have been talking about this forever.