Taking Out the Trash

Apr 24, 2020

LEADER'S FIELD GUIDE

I received an electric grill as a gift. Though riddled with guilt, I gave it away! Find out why and what I learned about leading through change.


Have you ever seen an overflowing trash bin? Perhaps at a park or in, um, someone else’s kitchen? It happens slowly, just one item at a time. But, eventually, even huge dumpsters get full. We tend to find more trash when we switch offices or move to a new location. Some things get tossed out, recycled, or given away....

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Recovering from Mistakes

Apr 17, 2020

LEADER'S FIELD GUIDE

I insisted on appearing competent and confident by minimizing the issues-- only to discover the client interpreted my interactions as unapologetic!


It was a perfect storm of technical issues and miscalculated responses. I cringed at the discovery of each new setback: data synchronization errors on my calendar causing confusion, botched software configuration that even Support couldn’t resolve, and an unexpected Disk Is Full message requiring some time-consuming...

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Paradigm Shift

Mar 27, 2020

LEADER'S FIELD GUIDE

The letters G-B-U-J-S were tapped out using a towel against a prison cell. What the Stockdale Paradox says about leaders' perseverance and acceptance.


The letters G-B-U-J-S were tapped out using a wet towel against a prison cell. The Tap Code gave prisoners a 25-letter alphabet for communicating with each other during captivity. 1 While being tortured at the Hoa Lo Prison (A.K.A. “Hanoi Hilton”), James Stockdale heard, “G-B-U-J-S,” which meant...

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Childlike Work

Oct 11, 2019
 

LEADER'S FIELD GUIDE

As children, we were virtually incapable of being bored. We took limitless risks, had an insatiable curiosity, and considered infinite possibilities.


I have a photo of myself taken at a park, in 1976. I know it was taken on a Sunday because I was wearing a dress and thick white tights under my royal blue coat. I was missing three of my front teeth and sporting my favorite Buster Brown shoes. I am grinning from ear to ear while perched on the monkey bars,...

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LEADER'S FIELD GUIDE

LIGHT-HEARTED WISDOM FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS!