People don’t like to be controlled. In an Intent-Based Leadership environment, leaders don’t control what others do. Instead, they create safe environments where people have their own agency and control over their work. I’m here with my friend’s sons, Tony and Cal. Tony’s not quite two, but he already knows he doesn’t like to be...
Leaders encourage people to follow the organization’s values and principles rather than a particular person. This mitigates favoritism and helps create an organization aligned to its principles and values rather than personalities. How is it in your organization? Hey, I’m here at Heidelberg Castle, which is mostly a ruin, but this one building was reconstructed....
Leadership Nudge® 361 – Say I Don’t Know
August 25, 2021by Sandy Wilmer
Saying “I don’t know” is hard. It’s important for leaders to model this behavior, paving the way for others to say “I don’t know.” This creates a learning environment. It’s hard to say I don’t know. But as a leader, it’s very important to be able to model that behavior. So, it’s okay for your...
Onboarding is about facilitating that emotional transition from feeling like an outsider to feeling like an insider – moving from “they” to “we”. The sooner this happens the sooner the team is more effective. What can you do to help your new folks move from the feeling of “they” to “we”? Here’s an example of...
To influence up the chain of command, make things safe for your boss. Use the Ladder of Leadership, step by step, to earn the right to be heard and the right to have influence over decisions. One of the most common questions I get is how do I move myself up with my boss, where...
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Leadership Nudge® 349 – Book Review: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen
May 12, 2021by Sandy Wilmer
Small changes in language can have huge impacts on how people feel and how they act. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk is one of the best leadership books for dealing with people (of any age) I’ve ever read. One of the things that I learned was how...
In a meeting, if a leader expresses their opinion first, what they’re doing is anchoring the discussion to their own perspective. Instead, leaders speak last. They share their opinions once they’ve heard from other people to hear more diverse perspectives. I’m in Alloa in Scotland, where this anchor is a reminder of the history of...
You can’t fix people. They don’t need fixing. What you can do is create the environment where it makes it easy for people to do the behavior that you’re looking for. Hey, David Marquet here. I want to talk about Principle 5 of Intent-Based Leadership, which is Leaders Fix the Environment, Not People. Now, here’s how this...
Studies show that when we try to control things that we really cannot control, our blood pressure increases and our bodies release of the stress hormone cortisol. For more happiness and less stress make a conscious choice to give up control. A key part of Intent-Based Leadership is about giving up control. We understand the...
Leadership Nudge® 324 – Safe to take Risks
September 16, 2020by Sandy Wilmer
Leaders must create a safe environment in order for employees to feel comfortable engaging in risk-embracing behavior, like launching a new product or even sharing a dissenting opinion. This is when you call the “Connect” play. Connect is about caring what people think, caring how people feel, and caring about their personal goals. Hey, ladies...