A Simple Hack to Help You Communicate More Effectively

I read this blog by Matt Abrahams and it reminded me of the hack that I have found useful for leaders who want to become leaders worth following. Moving from Complexity to Clarity: First, the framework that Matt refers to is fairly straightforward and helps us communicate with impact. Sense-making: While this hack is from the perspective of the leader communicating to the team, here is the hack that it reminded me, which is from the perspective of the leader being communicated to. I learned this from Matt Church. This has 4 questions: In order to know what to communicate, […]

The Power of Belief

I was introduced to this TED talk by Kelly McGonigal by Peter Cook via his blog post here. Watch the talk if you have the time (about 15 mins) – its funny, insightful and hopeful – a rare combination.

Warning Signs to Watch out

Premise: In the early part of the 20th Century, the CIA (yes, that CIA) created a manual for its operatives to help teach them the art of sabotage. One part of the manual was meant specifically to train them to sabotage organizations. While you may not have someone actively trying to sabotage your organization (or maybe there could be), there might be behaviors that are unintentionally sabotaging your operations. So, it is a good idea to learn about these behaviors and nip them in the bud if we start seeing them playing out in our teams – intentionally or unintentionally. […]

The Paradox of Modern Leadership

https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/Comfort_the_Disturbed_and_Disturb_the_Comfortable.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSPremise: Life and work are never static; they operate on an emotional roller coaster where peaks of success are inevitably followed by valleys of struggle. Far too many leaders view their teams as “resources”—cogs in a machine designed for output—rather than recognizing the complex human beings behind the results. The most effective leaders possess the strategic agility to serve as both a sanctuary and a catalyst – they act like a thermostat (constantly adjusting the culture) and not just as a thermometer. Our core mandate is to build an environment where […]

How to be Remarkable and Stand Out as a Leader

https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/How_to_Be_Remarkable_And_stand_out_from_the_crowd.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSPremise: Standing out starts with choosing to see, think, and act differently from the default, and then designing your work, relationships, and systems around that choice. This means intentionally questioning “how things are done here” and repeatedly experimenting with better ways that reflect who you are and what you care about.​ Why being different matters Most environments quietly push people to conform, to not make waves, and to follow existing templates for success. If you obey those pressures blindly, you become invisible, even when you are talented and hardworking. Think differently […]