Leadership

My 10 fears that prevent me from making a decision or committing. And the story I choose to believe instead to empower action.

My 10 fears that prevent me from making a decision or committing. And the story I choose to believe instead to empower action.

Do you ever put off making a decision? Postpone taking action? I do. I know a lot of great excuses to make me feel like it's the smart thing to do. The resistance to it is quite clever. But in the end, it's usually one of these 10 fears that are holding me back.

Jonathan Coe - Sinking Giggling into the Sea

Jonathan Coe - Sinking Giggling into the Sea

Satire of the ones in power is important. It can act as a conduit for clear though and action. But too often it merely replaces thought/action. "A snigger here, a snigger there – it all adds up". Also, it is often misunderstood! We often take from it what we want to hear. The Colbert Report and Loadsamoney were popular both on the left and right wing.

Brainpickings - Keltner’s Power Paradox

Brainpickings - Keltner’s Power Paradox

The paradox is that - once you have the power - people seem to loose the qualities you got power with. How to prevent falling in that trap? (1) Keep the focus on the other and help them. (2) Keep your interests in check. (3) Avoid getting too busy. 

Lucas de Man - I don’t know so I am

Lucas de Man - I don’t know so I am

I was really impressed by Lucas de Man’s keynote at the MediaFutureWeek. He’s an inspiring fella. I especially liked his message that you can’t engage in conversation when you think you already know it. And that you don’t need to create a better world. But that you just need to create a world. Oh and it you watch till the end, you can see me asking a question. 

The Week - Steve Jobs and the perils of being a corporate visionary

The Week - Steve Jobs and the perils of being a corporate visionary

Caring too much about certain specifics of a vision is how I would describe it. That only one outcome counts as good enough, no matter what the costs. Despite it being another Jobs story, the point is quite profound. When do you care so much about accomplishing something that we do it at the expense of others? Or vice versa, when do you try to please others and forget yourself.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (HBR) - Why do so many incompetent men become leaders?

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic (HBR) - Why do so many incompetent men become leaders?

This article tries to explain why we have so many more men in management than women. It goes about it differently than the usual they’re incapable, they’re uninterested or glass ceiling reasons often given. And that is most welcome! It looks at the way we choose leaders. Turns out, the criteria that make candidates look good are exactly the ones that make bad leaders. We just seem to like self-centeredness, overconfidence and narcissism. And these ‘qualities’ are not equally present in men and women.