As Rory Sutherland would say, it doesn't have to make logical sense, it just has to be psychologically effective. I use this expression all of the time and it's come to my attention that not everyone knows what I'm talking about. So, if I'm sending you this, it's because I created this note for future … Continue reading Turn It Up To ELEVEN
Tag: communication
Professionals Don’t Change Hats, They Change Positions
When you work with people, especially if you’re leading them, situations change and you have to adapt. The most useful thing to know is where we stand in relation to those we're working with. This is positioning. Instead of putting on different hats to represent different roles and responsibilities, thinking in terms of positioning allows … Continue reading Professionals Don’t Change Hats, They Change Positions
When Self-Awareness Is Just Selfish-Talk
Yeah, I've noticed things are broken and passively ignored them before. Let he who hasn't cast the next stone through the already broken abandoned factory windows. Tasha Eurich is the kingpin of self-awareness research. She recently tweeted this Alan Mulally quote, If you don’t have a vision, a smart strategy, and a detailed plan to … Continue reading When Self-Awareness Is Just Selfish-Talk
They’re Waiting For You To Notice
I love asking people if they're an "everything happens for a reason" person OR a "nothing happens for a reason, but you get to pick your own" person. I'm in the latter camp. I've found peace with the people in the first. Most of the time we're saying the same thing. Here's why: Do work. … Continue reading They’re Waiting For You To Notice
The Pencil’s Mightier Than The Magic Wand
"Get to the point Matt." I'd heard it enough times. From outside my head and inside it too. I was good at collecting what I'd call, "mostly useless information." I was crap at figuring out how to make it useful. I was looking for a magic wand. But that was the wrong piece of wood. … Continue reading The Pencil’s Mightier Than The Magic Wand
Practice Then Perform
“Should I try this?” “Wait, who is going to cover that point?” “Am I closing? You? Does that make sense with our opening?” These are the types of conversations I have with my team all of the time. They’re essential. But… We’re talking about practice man. Do all that stuff, but then, you’ve still got … Continue reading Practice Then Perform
Your Growth > Your Misery (Thanks Steve Schlafman)
Steve Schlafman is an investor and coach I greatly admire. After this story, I admire him as a human even more. Schlafman was about to raise a new fund. The money was committed and his investors were waiting for the “I’m open for business, go ahead and send me your money” email. Instead, they got … Continue reading Your Growth > Your Misery (Thanks Steve Schlafman)
The Power Of “I Don’t Get It”
I did all the work, ran all the numbers, made the presentation look pretty, got dressed up, and… they didn’t even want to look at it. The whole conversation went somewhere else. I called the audible, focused in on what I should have been focused on in the first place, and got it done. Been … Continue reading The Power Of “I Don’t Get It”
For Feedback To Work, It Must…
For Feedback to work it has to be specific and concrete. That means for feedback to fail, all you have to do is make it overly general and ambiguous. "I love when you send me these instructions in the exact order I need to enter them" is infinitely better than "I hate the way you … Continue reading For Feedback To Work, It Must…
Help (I Need Some Continuum)
There's a continuum to helping. If you want to be helpful, it helps to know where you're coming from. On one end is the bad samaritan. They see and don't help. We'll assume that's not what you're looking to do, but we have to acknowledge it exists. Next is the non-judging-but-passively-listening friend. This is good … Continue reading Help (I Need Some Continuum)