The word ‘leadership’ is thrown around so often that it sometimes feels like it is losing its meaning. We see it everywhere: in job titles, on LinkedIn profiles, in performance reviews. But what does it really mean to be a leader? Has the term become… Has ‘leadership’ lost its meaning?
This cartoon nails it! (cartoon credit: Kendra Allenby, The New Yorker) It’s a common dilemma. One that many of us face at some point in our careers. After years of honing our (usually technical) skills, we’re presented with a crossroad: the only way up seems… When the only way up is into management
Writing is one of the most powerful tools you have. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or simply trying to get a message across, the way you write can make or break your impact. Yet, most people don’t give it the attention it… Great writing is your secret weapon for impact
Interviews are some of the more anxiety-inducing experiences related to our careers. The situation is nothing like most of us experience in our day-to-day work. It involves: It should be no surprise that most of us struggle to bring out our best. Compounding this challenge:… Want to nail your next job interview? Mock interviews are the game changer.
You’ve probably heard of AMRAP in workouts – As Many Reps As Possible. Let’s apply this to your to-do list. Enter AMTAP: As Many Things As Possible. AMTAP goes against a lot of the conventional wisdom around productivity. Instead of prioritising your work using the… AMTAP: As Many Things As Possible.
Multitasking is common in our increasingly connected world. We’re paying attention to an increasing number of sources of incoming information. Sometimes we do it as a conscious attempt to get more done. More often, we do it without thinking – we’re just scanning our environment… Five ways to get your focus back
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… Is my boss OK?
(And 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, and… Goal-setting matters less than you think
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… My most impactful daily work habit
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… Ikebana at work
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… Warning: read these articles at your own risk!
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… How to 80/20 your life and work?
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… What does it take to be great?
Overload is something I’ve struggled with at work, particularly in management roles. Here’s a fairly typical situation for me. I’d find myself running 7+ projects at once. Some were just kicking off, and others were close to being finished. Some of them were ‘paid’ projects… Overloaded at work? Try working dumber, instead of smarter.
You are never too small to make a difference. Greta Thunberg, Activist You don’t have to be a CEO or executive to make a difference. You don’t even need a manager’s title. Leaders exist at all levels of organisations. And society. We don’t need anyone… You are never too small to make a difference
The book in a paragraph Algorithms to Live By explores human algorithm design – the use of algorithms for solutions to life’s everyday challenges. Algorithms are not just the domain of computer scientists – they are any sequence of steps used to solve a problem.… Book summary: Algorithms to Live By, by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths
A daily review is an integral part of my overall ‘impact system’. It sits alongside other key parts of my system, including a weekly review, which I’ll cover in a separate post. My daily review has two primary objectives: My version of a daily review… My simple daily review