Culture of Speak

People are misaligned with the economy. Let me explain — just last month, in August 2022, a top searched term was “Quiet Quitting”. I even did a podcast on the topic —  https://rss.com/podcasts/cultureofspeak/604426/ Now in September 2022, there is talk of a “white collar recession” with a new #layoffs headline almost daily, the latest being Goldman, Twilio and now Patreon. Are the two trends connected? Was this a case of over-hiring in the boom cycle, like the article says?

Every leader latches on to "strategy" as a buzzword, very few really sit and think through it as a way of working, and even thinking. Strategy comes from the military usage where taking high ground in a battle would give advantages - the ability to see the battlefield in it's totality (the "big picture") and accordingly plan out attacks on the opposing forces. Applied to today's corporate landscape, strategy becomes an overarching approach that guides the direction of a perso

If the first step in a long journey is the hardest, the next hardest is the step, or steps, we take when times are hard. In a year of economic troubles, war and high inflation, many businesses and professionals are struggling, trying to re-discover their clients and customers. Amazingly, through social media posts and conversations it is amazing to watch people still pursuing the hustle, the side gig, and the dream. Perhaps, though, this "side gig" is what people aspire to ma

How do you see yourself as a leader? Some leaders tell others what to do. Others do all the work themselves ("If you want it done right..."). Imagine your team as a growing organism. It needs a lot of care when it is new or green. As it matures, it needs less hands on care and more observation and expert handling, advising, mentorship. To be sure, it takes getting your hands dirty to make a great tree grow from sapling to a solid oak. Once you get it there, though, it starts

Always pick effectiveness over efficiency. I remember this great quote which came from Peter Drucker, mentioned in a college seminar decades ago. We're so focused on saving time that we sometimes forget what really counts and makes a difference. So the next time you're exhausted and yet feel like you're not making headway, take a step back, prioritize and do ONE thing that really matters. #executivepresence #leadership #communication

Leaders have an eye for how things connect. Being able to spot the connections requires a nimble adjustment from the detail view to the strategic view. Always ask yourself, how does this impact our goals? Does it support our stakeholders? Is is sustainable? Problems always have solutions, processes always have a next step, and culture always has an evolution ahead of it. #leadership #executivepresence #influence

The best leaders are able to figure out 'how' with the finer details and 'why' from the big picture. Like the saying goes, you don't want to miss the forest for the trees, nor do you want to miss out on the trees themselves for each one tells a story. So, zoom in when you need to focus, zoom out when you need perspective. #leadership #vision #productivity

What does it take to learn something? According to Burch's model, modified here, it starts with recognizing what we don't know, and recognizing we lack competence in that area. Then, we start the process of research and practice, perfecting our skill through trial and error. Some parts of this journey need a mentor or advisor, other parts we go alone. Finally, once we master the skill, it becomes second nature to us. Although the trick is, learning never truly stops. Either w