Carla Harris of Morgan Stanley came to Microsoft and shared some insights on leadership. There was one thing in particular that she shared with us that stuck with me.
(more…)Consistently Deliver Value
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Navigating Complexity
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Before COVID seems like an easier time. It likely was not, but it feels that way. The amount of complexity that surrounds us is tremendous and we as leaders must find a way to navigate today and the uncertainty that is yet to come.
The only true way to figure out how to navigate complexity is to experiment. Jean-Philipee Courtois (JP) shared one specific experiment he ran as his role went from managing sales for the country of France to managing sales for all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
(more…)Self-Disruption
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There is a common framework called the S-curve that came to life with new meaning for me this week when I married the concept with some numbers.
Abhijit Bhaduri has studied startups (with an extra focus in India but all over the world) and shared that there are three buckets startups land in:
(more…)How Do You Seek Validation for Your Life’s Work?
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A few weeks ago, I attended an art exhibit based on the works of Vincent Van Gogh. The exhibit was fascinating. In a massive room of four blank walls, they had set up triangular columns with mirrors from floor to ceiling, benches were scattered throughout the room and dozens of projectors filled every square inch of the room with the art of Vincent Van Gogh.
(more…)How to Get Faster Results
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Here is a brief tale (but actually a real story) of one meeting, two presenters, and the energy flow of all involved.
The first presenter articulated with precision a customer need. A solution was presented, and a story was told on how the team overcame obstacles on behalf of the customer. The content was compelling and the one leading the solution was confident and strong.
The second presenter shared a challenge the organization faces and made a case for the value of solving this problem to the organization. This project was in an earlier stage so there were not as many details of obstacles that were overcome but the one leading the project was experienced, influential, and trusted.
(more…)Stabilizing During Uncertainty
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To celebrate our most recent wedding anniversary, my wife and I hiked The Narrows at Zion National Park. It is a beautiful hike in a slot canyon through a shallow river. Depending on when you go the clarity of the river water can vary from clear to opaque. What makes the water opaque is the dirt and sand that has washed into the river. When we hiked The Narrows, the water was opaque. With each step it was a mystery to know what would come next. The bottom of the riverbed has various depths (from a few inches to a few feet) and various terrains (from soft sand to large uneven river rocks) making each step its own unique challenge.
(more…)Leadership Definition
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There is no shortage of books, articles, and research papers on the concept of leadership. It is a massive area of study for academics and practitioners alike. Despite the size of the field, there is no common definition for leadership. Consider a few that I have collected, some of which are quite terrible. I will let you be the judge.
(more…)Leadership Flywheel
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Ever since reading Good to Great by Jim Collins I have been fascinated by the concept of the flywheel. Working hard on the right things consistently over time and then having your efforts compound for massive impact over time. I have touched on the idea here and here.
Leadership is a difficult topic to create a flywheel around because there is not a shared definition of leadership in the community. The definition I choose to use is:
(more…)The Stories People Believe
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Recently I finished Tribes by Seth Godin. His books are always interesting and insightful. In Tribes he had a point that hit home for me. The point went something like this.
(more…)Observations and Interpretations
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Driving any work forward and making progress is difficult. When there are individual people and feelings involved (as there always are) it makes it even more difficult. In the past few months, I have used what I will call observation and interpretation mapping to help me and others focus on the work and less on the people involved in it.
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