Is my boss OK?
I thought this was pretty funny when I saw it the other day. Like most good jokes, it has a strong hint of truth to it. Because sadly, a lot of managers are not OK. A recent study by The Workforce Institute surveyed 3,400 workers…
Goal-setting matters less than you think
(And why you should still do it). Conventional wisdom suggests that goal-setting is fundamental to success at work. But there’s a growing trend against goal-setting. Some business leaders, like 37signals CEO Jason Fried, avoid setting goals altogether. I understand the sentiment. Goal-setting can be counterproductive,…
My most impactful daily work habit
A daily review is one of the best habits you can build to increase your impact. For nearly a decade, I’ve been honing and fine-tuning my daily review practice, alternating between periods of consistency and adjustment. Over the past 18 months, I’ve made a deliberate…
Ikebana at work
To create exceptional work, learn from the Japanese art of flower arranging, Ikebana. Ikebana exemplifies elegant simplicity. It is all about keeping things simple. Less is more. Practitioners focus on removing extra elements, understanding that what is left out is just as important as what’s…
Warning: read these articles at your own risk!
About 10 years ago I was thinking about moving on from my job at the time. There was nothing ‘wrong’ with the job, I was pretty good at the work, and I liked the people I worked with. But I had a sense that I…
How to 80/20 your life and work?
The 80/20 rule is one of the most useful mental models that I’ve picked up in my life. Also known as the Pareto principle, this rule captures the observation that roughly 80% of good outcomes come from just 20% of our efforts. You can use…
Is engagement survey data misleading?
This quote has been living rent-free in my head for the past few weeks: People don’t think what they feel, don’t say what they think and don’t do what they say. David Ogilvy, advertising tycoon I think it’s true. Often, our genuine thoughts and feelings…
What does it take to be great?
We can be good at many things. But what does it take to be great? In his book ‘Outliers’, Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” to become world-class in any field. I recently came across the purest expression of the…
There’s only one proven way to make better decisions.
Updated: 1 October 2024 In 2004, English gambler Ashley Revell sold everything he owned and bet $135,300 on a single spin of a roulette wheel in Las Vegas. Despite the odds being slightly against him, the ball landed on red, and Revell doubled his money.…
Leaders: paying attention to your own engagement is crucial
Here’s what to do: First: Assess your engagement at work. If you’re measuring engagement in your team, check out your own results in isolation. Otherwise, schedule a self check-in once per month to rate how you’re feeling out of 10. Pay attention to any trends.…
Three methods to get clear on what you want (in life and at work)
I’m continually reminded that clarity is a fundamental element of great organisations, relationships and, ultimately, a great life. When we have clarity, we are more fulfilled as individuals and our organisations and communities thrive. Method 1 Do you know what you want to do and…
How do you know if your strategic plan is working?
A plan is only as good as its outcomes. Here’s how to track progress and ensure your strategy is delivering results. It’s easy to feel good about a strategic plan when it’s fresh. But the real test is whether it delivers results. How do you…
The number 1 thing managers should do with their team members
Here’s the number 1 thing managers should do with their team members. It’s common sense, but not common practice. What is it? Set quarterly goals with each team member. It’s a straightforward exercise, but rarely done well. Usually because managers simply haven’t been taught how…
Effective managers schedule regular one-on-ones. And stick to them
Most managers have one on ones with their teams. But here’s what separates the best from the worst 👇. Average managers organise one on ones from time to time. Highly effective managers schedule them in advance. And stick to them. The least effective don’t have…
Most people can’t get organised, because they’re too busy being disorganised
What’s the number 1 reason that most people can’t find the time to get organised? Because they’re too busy being disorganised! Many people can’t get organised, simply because they’re too busy being disorganised. As author Patrick Lencioni says in his book The Advantage, sometimes we…
You can’t engage your team overnight, but here’s what you can do today
It’s impossible to engage your team overnight. But here’s what’s possible today… It’ll only take you 30 minutes. But, in one year’s time you’ll have a team with boosted engagement, because they: And highly engaged teams are 3x more productive than merely satisfied teams. Talk…
Sophistication bias is a disease within organisations
Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dekic reminds me of a common problem in management. So many of us overcomplicate things, because of sophistication bias… This is when we ignore simple solutions in search of something more complex, innovative or clever. As a result, we – wrongly…
The envelope of leadership competence
I think we each operate in an envelope of leadership competence. When we’re calm and composed, we rise to the heights of our competence. But, when we’re under extreme pressure, we lose our leadership composure and fall to the baseline of our incompetence. Our envelope…
20 things strong leaders can do (but old school managers avoid)
Modern leaders focus on authenticity. While old school managers are too busy obsessing about not looking weak. But, you can be a strong, authentic leader and: Modern leadership sees authenticity as the key to connection. And connection as a key lever of leadership.
Book Summary: Start With Why by Simon Sinek
The book in a paragraph The most successful individuals and organisations communicate and operate from their core purpose, cause or belief, inspiring others and achieving remarkable loyalty and engagement. They “start with why”. And then they align their how – processes and values – and…