The Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five - Sept 14, 2024
We've reached the midpoint of September—time flies, doesn’t it? ✋ The hustle and bustle of the fall "restart" might be catching up with us as we dive deeper into our routines and back-to-school schedules. As the pace quickens, it's easy to get swept up in the momentum, but it’s just as important to take a moment for self-care. This weekend, let’s pause, recharge, and embrace the balance we all need. Welcome to this week's Leadership In Focus: Weekend High Five.
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Quote of the Week:
“CTRL+ALT+DEL = Control Yourself, Alter Your Thinking, Delete Negativity” - Costas K. Gian
Takeaway: Life may throw challenges your way, but the true power lies in how you respond. While you can't control every circumstance, you can control your actions, mindset, and the kindness you show to others.
Action Item: Reflect on one area of your life where you've been reacting rather than acting with intention. Make a conscious choice today to shift your focus, embrace the challenge, and take a positive step forward—whether that's in your mindset, actions, or how you treat others.
“Why Exceptional Employees May Fail As Managers” by Jack Kelly
Kelly explores the pitfalls that top individual contributors face when promoted to managerial roles. While these high performers excel in their previous roles, the skills that made them successful don't necessarily translate into effective leadership. The article highlights the need for organizations to provide proper training, mentoring, and development for new managers to help them acquire essential leadership traits, such as communication, delegation, and emotional intelligence, to avoid the common pitfalls of poor management.
As we continue on this leadership growth journey together, here are the 5 big ideas we discussed this week at Leadership In Focus:
Monday: 📖 The Power of Storytelling: This week, we explored how a well-told story can be the most powerful tool in your career. Whether it’s creating a vision, inspiring belief, or bringing people together, mastering the art of storytelling is essential for effective leadership.
Tuesday: 🚗 If Life is a Highway, Sometimes There Will be Traffic Jams: Life and work can sometimes feel like a traffic jam—frustrating and slow-moving. We discussed the importance of staying patient, planning for detours, and keeping a positive attitude, no matter how challenging the journey may be.
Wednesday: 🌟 Three Steps to Overcoming Overwhelm As we approach the year’s end, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by life’s demands. Curtis Scaplen shared three practical steps to help you cut through the noise, simplify your focus, and take meaningful action to regain control and momentum.
Thursday: 🌪️ Beware of Policy Creep We delved into the concept of "policy creep," where well-intentioned rules can stifle creativity and erode workplace culture. Drawing lessons from companies like Netflix, we emphasized the importance of trust and only implementing policies when absolutely necessary.
Friday: 🚗 Say No to Manager Tailgating Micromanagement—or "manager tailgating"—can be detrimental to team morale and productivity. We discussed why giving your team autonomy fosters trust, boosts morale, and allows leaders to focus on strategic growth.
Closing Thought: This week, we've focused on the power of storytelling, navigating life’s challenges with patience and resilience, overcoming the overwhelm of year-end pressures, avoiding the pitfalls of policy creep, and promoting trust over micromanagement. As we move forward, remember that effective leadership is about balancing ambition with empathy, trust, and self-care. Enjoy a reflective and rejuvenating weekend ahead!
From Sunday, September 8, 2024: Is Designer Culture Really the Answer? 📝
Organizational culture can't be "designed" like a trend. Instead, it evolves naturally from the behaviors, interactions, and values that are genuinely practiced within a team. Authentic culture, like that of Netflix’s “Freedom and Responsibility” model, is built on observable actions and accountability, rather than just aspirational statements. The focus should be on reflecting the real essence of the team rather than forcing a glossy, contrived version of culture.
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.
