#69 | 11.8.24 - 15 Zero-Effort Ways to Up Your Leadership Game / Internet Speed Test / 10 Questions That Will Change Your Life / What the Capitol Looks Like in Every State
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15 Zero-Effort Ways to Up Your Leadership Game
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most impact. With that in mind, I made a list this week of 15 simple things you can do that will make a big difference in your leadership.
Turn off your phone: Just try it. For one hour. The world can wait, and your attention is priceless.
Make eye contact: Look people in the eyes when you’re speaking or listening. It builds trust and shows respect.
Limit your inbox time: Check email just twice a day. .
Ask, how can I best help you? Offer yourself as a resource to your team. It’s usually implied, but a great reminder to actually say it.
Leave your office/desk: The pulse of your organization usually sounds different away from your office. Go where you can hear it.
Embrace silence: Get comfortable with pausing. Not every moment needs to be filled with talk. Bonus tip - don’t answer your own questions. When you ask a question, count to 7. Be comfortable with silence.
Acknowledge your biases: Before key meetings, note your assumptions and biases. Some may be helpful, others might not be.
Be clear about ‘thinking out loud’: Verbal processing as a leader can confuse those around you. Clarify when you’re brainstorming or musing.
Say thank you. A lot: As I’ve written about before, triple your affirmations—you likely don’t give enough.
Lead with questions: Leadership is as much about inquiry as it is about direction. Ask more; tell less. Bonus tip - try an experiment to go 1 hour and asking questions only, versus making declarative statements that tell people what to do.
Say it again: I’m reminded that if you’re leading, you probably haven’t said ‘it’ enough. Just when you feel you’ve said it too many times, people are likely just starting to understand.
Don’t email everything: Use email for straightforward information. If it’s a nuanced or difficult conversation, do it in person or via video.
Be nice: Don’t justify poor behavior. You can be kind and clear at the same time.
Stay curious: Regularly ask for feedback and seek new knowledge; it keeps you adaptable.
Commit to self-improvement: As John Maxwell states in The Law of the Lid, ‘The organization can’t go where the leader hasn’t been’.
Little things —> Big things!
Internet Speed Test
We all likely know about speedtest.net. I recently learned about Cloudflare’s Internet Speed Test site. I enjoy the different gauges and metrics on this site, while also looking for relevant connection quality issues.
10 Questions That Will Change Your Life
While I initially thought this was clickbaity, I gotta admit, there are some darn good questions in here!
What the Capitol Looks Like in Every State
With elections happening in the US this week, fitting this article hit my newsfeed. I enjoyed seeing the different architecture across the country.
Words to wrap up:
“Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.”
- Anonymous