Leaders come across many obstacles when trying to implement change. Here, David gives advice for working with people who push back. One of the questions I get pretty regularly is “how do you handle blockers or people who are opposed to the culture that you want to build?” Well. You want to decide, is this...
Intent-Based Leaders show new employees support. Here, David suggests questions to ask on the first day. I got a question the other day from a keynote presentation that I’d never seen before and loved it. It was “What would be the first question you would ask a new employee?” So – first of all –...
The language we use affects how we think and how we act. The word “resource” is dehumanizing. We become numbers on a spreadsheet instead of the talented, engaged people that we are at work. Here’s Jenni with more. Think back to when you were little. Did you ever want to be a resource when you...
Leaders encourage probabilistic conversation which allows people to share thoughts and communicate in a way that encourages thinking. Here’s David with further explanation. Hey, here’s one representation of what Hurricane Ian might do to Florida, where I live, which is going to hit tomorrow (September 28, 2022). And it shows this single line. And we...
Praise is part of the manipulative strategy of bosses. Leaders dealing with adults observe not evaluate, and prize not praise. Here, David explains the difference and why it matters. Hey, we put out a post recently where we talked about praise being a manipulation, a manipulative tool that bosses use to control people and to...
A leader’s job is to structure the organization so that it creates the right conversations, thus pushing authority to information. Here, David discusses what it sounds like when a leader manages information instead. So I got a question. At what point is pushing down authority to information become the leader absolving themselves of responsibility. It...
David suggests how to move toward a growth mindset by replacing one simple word. I received a one-word hack, which I think is genius. And the idea is this: Instead of saying “to me” you replace it with “for me.” So instead of “Why is this happening TO me?” – “Why is this happening FOR...
Practice using open questions to be curious, not compelling. Watch David explain how to become a Question Master. Here’s an activity that will have you practice being curious before being compelling. Have someone write down every question you ask in a meeting = verbatim. What I’m looking for is it needs to be specific enough...
Saying “well” at the start of an answer to a question is a good indicator that what follows includes things like deflection, accountability avoidance and blame. Watch as David explains. “Well” is a tell. When you ask a question, if the first word you hear back is “well,” most likely what will follow has an element...
When we use self-deprecating language, we negate the words that follow. Stop saying things like “I’m just . . . a receptionist . . .” or “I’ve been here just two years . . .” Instead, remove the word “just” and say what you think and what you see. Your voice matters! Hey, here’s a...
