The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - November 2, 2024
Welcome to November! It’s that time of year when, like clockwork, we dutifully set the clocks back and embrace the dark evenings. I’m sure we’re all asking the age-old question: why do we still do this to ourselves? One hour of lost sleep and a chorus of yawns to start the week—classic Daylight Savings ritual. But on the bright side, we gain a little more morning light, so there’s that.
This month brings a flurry of anticipation and, for our American readers, a busy calendar. Not only is Thanksgiving around the corner, but with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s also a season for unbeatable deals—and the inevitable wallet workout. But amid all the celebration and shopping, November is a reminder that we have fewer than two months left in 2024. Time to look at those last few goals and make sure we’re closing the year strong.
Oh, and a note to our U.S. readers: remember to cast your vote this week! It’s a big part of shaping what’s next.
Here’s to a month of gratitude, momentum, and finishing 2024 on a high note. Welcome to this week’s Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five!
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Quote of the Week:
“Be selfish with your time. A lot of people don’t deserve it.”
- posted by Excellence Talks on LinkedIn
Takeaway: What is your time really worth? If you placed a dollar value on each hour, would it change the way you share it with others? Time is limited and valuable, so invest it mindfully and be selective about who gets a slice.
Action Item: This week, try a quick calculation: take your ideal annual income, break it down to an hourly rate, and use that as a filter. With each new commitment, ask yourself if it’s worth that rate.
Interesting read:(2) When Everything is Urgent, Nothing is Urgent | LinkedIn - by Mireille Bergraaf
When every task is labeled “urgent,” teams lose sight of what truly matters. The constant urgency culture leads to burnout, scattered focus, and a lack of strategic vision. This article by Mireille Bergraaf offers four strategies for leaders to break free from the “must-do-now” mindset, empowering teams to prioritize with clarity and focus. By discerning between truly critical tasks and those that can wait, leaders foster a culture of thoughtful, purposeful action.
Key Takeaway: Urgency should be a tool for focus, not a perpetual crisis mode. Leaders who set clear priorities enable their teams to channel energy where it matters most.
Action Item: This week, set “pause points” before tackling tasks, assessing whether each item is truly urgent or if it can be planned. Schedule weekly team check-ins to reassess and realign priorities as needed, allowing everyone to work with intent rather than reacting to constant demands.
As we continue on this leadership growth journey together, here are the 5 big ideas we discussed this week at Leadership In Focus:
Monday, Oct 28th: 𝗠y𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 🚨 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 '𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿' 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟯𝟬: Social media might make you feel like everyone else has it all figured out, but life is a work in progress. From careers to family, each decade adds new layers. The big takeaway? The only thing to “master” right now is showing up and staying curious.
❓ P.S. What lesson would you share with your 20-year-old self?
Tuesday, Oct 29th: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗸 🧙♂️: Halloween brought out not only costumes but also a discussion about "goblin" leadership traits—those toxic behaviors that create chaos rather than cohesion. We looked at traits like micromanaging, unreasonable standards, and more, exploring ways to unmask and correct these habits in ourselves and others.
❓ P.S. Have you encountered any of these “goblin” traits in your workplace?
Wednesday, Oct 30th: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 🚨: In our Leadership In Focus newsletter, Curtis Scaplen debunked the idea of a “right” path. Each experience, role, and pivot builds the unique foundation for your career. The journey isn’t about following someone else’s footsteps; it’s about creating your own.
❓ P.S. What advice would you give emerging leaders who are just starting out?
Thursday, Oct 31st: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲… 👻: On Halloween, we tackled the “Problem Monsters” lurking in offices—traits like the Micromanager and Overpromiser. These “monsters” hinder performance, but by naming and addressing them, we can transform performance management from a horror show into an engaging team experience.
❓ P.S. Which Problem Monster have you encountered, and how did you overcome it?
Friday, Nov 1st: 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 🕳️ : The secret to building something remarkable is to start with a strong foundation, just like digging the foundation for a skyscraper. The early stages of success may seem slow, but once the groundwork is set, progress soars.
❓ P.S. What’s the hardest part of laying your foundation?
Closing Thought: This week’s discussions emphasized patience, self-awareness, and creating your own path. Are you investing in the foundation needed to build the career you envision?
From Sunday, October 27, 2024: When Pizza Parties Don’t Cut It 🍕
In last Sunday’s Leadership In Focus, Not So Funny, Funnies, we took a closer look at the "Staged Employee Engagement Season"—those office events like pizza parties, costume contests, and forced team-building meant to boost morale.
But here’s the twist: if teams have been overworked or undervalued all year, one Halloween party won’t make up for it. True engagement doesn’t come from one-off events; it’s built through a genuine, everyday commitment to culture and connection.
The big takeaway?
Occasional treats don’t make up for a lack of real engagement.
Leaders should focus on the daily actions and culture-building that make their teams feel valued all year round.
❓The question: Are you actively participating in your team’s culture—or just dressing up for show?
Tools & Resources of the Week: Leadership In Focus, Not So Funny, Funnies Greeting Cards
We’ve launched our Leadership In Focus, Not So Funny Funnies greeting cards! Celebrate new beginnings with a touch of humor. Each card from this collection playfully blends everyday workplace scenarios with a personalized message of encouragement. It’s the perfect way to mark significant life events with a mix of wit and heartfelt sentiment.
