Knowledge in Motion - Best of the Month (3)
December 2022
“It’s not the “how interesting!” reaction when we first read what matters; it’s the “Aha moment!” when we re-read what transforms.”
The goal with the monthly summary is to provide you with some quotes from the posts linked to practical prompts and questions to use in 1:1 meetings, feedback / coaching sessions, or to inspire themes for larger team meetings.
Starting a fire can be easy but maintaining it for as long as needed… that’s an art.
Fire humbles you!
Parallels between making fire, leadership and building the collective:
“Bring people together takes time, you don’t get to switch an on/off knob”
“Quick wins as means to an end” - “Build a flywheel, not a ladder”
“Be resilient” - “Become anti-fragile”
“Add strategically, do not overload” - “Patience and Focus build greatness”
Questions and prompts to use with your team:
How can we apply the wisdom of building and maintaining a wood-burning fire to our approach in bringing people together within our organization? Organize a team building around a fire pit, work together to keep the fire alive.
Inspired by the concept of "building a flywheel, not a ladder," what are the elements we should identify to build ours: fostering a positive team culture (wood), providing necessary resources and support (oxygen), and defining a clear strategic direction (shape), to create a flywheel effect in our organization?
In the face of setbacks and challenges, how can we encourage resilience within our team, understanding that even the most experienced and careful individuals may “get burnt”?
Our life journey starts with one step, and it will end with one last step… no matter how fast we go. It is often said that life is a journey, not a destination; and that life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace matters.
Life's journey is a masterpiece of creation, woven together by purpose, context, and experimentation. The value of this journey lies not in the speed of the trajectory but in the impact of our creations.
"Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see. One eye sees, the other feels." Paul Klee. In this intersection of outer forces and internal struggles, we find the essence of our creative journey.
Questions and prompts to use with your team:
How can we, as a team, embrace the idea that the next 2-3 years are going to be a truly creative journey for high impact rather than merely the completion of given tasks and set goals? How might this mindset shift impact our approach to work and elevate our performance? What do we need to do different starting today?
In this fast-paced world, how can we strike a balance between being mindful and intentional in our actions, taking the time to gain perspective, while also recognizing opportunities to seize and accelerate our progress when necessary? What do we need to change to allow for more time for creative work? What do we need to say No to?
Reflecting on the idea that life's journey is a masterpiece of creation, what steps can we take to ensure that our actions, decisions, and contributions are absolutely aligned with the mission and purpose of our organization? Is all we do is aligned with purpose? How might this awareness drive our commitment to excellence and elevate our performance
The Stockdale Paradox centers on two critical aspects: unwavering faith in one's ability to prevail in the end, coupled with the discipline to confront the harsh realities of the present. It's a delicate balance of optimism and realism, where faith and discipline unite to guide us through the toughest of challenges.
“I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect I would not trade” Admiral Stockdale
While Admiral Stockdale remained strong in captivity, his wife showed unwavering faith in his return and took action to organize the national prisoners of war families' organization. This demonstration of leadership, both on the front lines and at home, showcases the power of collective determination.
By removing blind spots and confronting brutal truths, we can forge a path forward with resilience, adaptability, and the strength to endure any storm that comes our way
Questions and prompts to use with your team:
How can we foster a sense of unwavering faith as leaders during challenging times while encouraging a disciplined approach to confront the harsh realities we face today?
can we balance our messages between optimism through conviction and realism through facts? how might this delicate balance help us develop resilience in our teams? what practices and resources can we provide to help our leaders face and overcome brutal facts with courage?
Reflecting on the work that Admiral Stockdale's wife did while he was enduring his life altering experience, ultimately to prevail together… how can we as a leadership team draw inspiration from the power of collective determination and support? What actions can we take to strengthen the sense of camaraderie and unity in our team?
“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.” Andy Grove, founder and former CEO of Intel.
Andy Grove asked, “If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what do you think he would do?” Moore answered without a doubt, “They would get us out of memories.” Andy Grove famously responded, “Why shouldn’t you and I walk out the door, come back and do it ourselves?”
“If existing management wants to keep their jobs when the basics of the business are undergoing profound change, they must adopt an outsider’s intellectual objectivity.”
Questions and prompts to use with your team:
Are you looking at your performance today based on what is needed tomorrow?
Are you self-aware enough to understand that if you are not moving forward in your own personal development, you are indeed moving backwards?
Do you look at what is needed in your job every year with the new lens of who would be hired to do your job today if you were to leave, and not who you were yesterday when you were hired to do the job?
Are you willing to look at your challenges and fire yourself; go out the revolving door and come back ready to do the job that will be required tomorrow?
