Dr. Ryan Niemiec from VIA Institute on Character created the SEA model for strengths spotting:
S – Spot/label the strength
E – Explain by giving a short rationale of the behavior you observed
A – Appreciate or recognize the value of the person for their strengths use
You can learn more here:
https://www.viacharacter.org/topics/articles/10-ways-to-celebrate-strengths-in-the-workplace
"Courage is contagious." - Brene Brown
Excellent set of free resources related to Wholehearted Living, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection from Brene Brown. The heart of wholeheartedness reminds me of how we are masterpieces (worthy now) and works in progress.
https://brenebrown.com/downloads/
Selfishness can be healthy or unhealthy, says science
Great tips on healthy selfishness, which is my favorite concept that I've learned about in 2020. https://thoughtcatalog.com/marisa-demarco/2015/04/9-ways-to-be-healthy-selfish-rather-than-unhealthy-selfless/
"How can I help you?" versus "How can I best support you?"
Curious what others think about this...I've been trying to use the word support more often than help lately because I don't want to imply that the other person needs help.
Note: We all need help (especially me), basically nothing is accomplished by one person, and asking for help when you need it is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Support also seems like a sustained commitment versus a short-term offer.
Whichever you prefer, this is a critical "empowering" skill for managers. and leaders.
What's your why?
Bringing back a classic on meaning and purpose...what's your why?
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en
OKRs are not a silver bullet - Doerr
“OKRs are not a silver bullet. They cannot substitute for sound judgment, strong leadership, or a creative workplace culture, wrote John Doerr in “Measure What Matters.” “But if those fundamentals are in place, OKRs can guide you to the mountaintop.”
Huge fan of these FAQs about OKRs and OKR culture from Measure What Matters https://www.whatmatters.com/faqs/okr-culture/
Agreements versus expectations
Agreements are clearly defining who will do what by when, then all people agree. Agreements allow people to honor their word and set clear boundaries.
Expectations are unclear and set us up for disappointment when they aren’t met and a “okay, that’s what you were supposed to do” meh-feeling when they are.
Conscious Leadership Group might be the most underrated source of excellent (free) leadership and management resources that I'm aware of. https://conscious.is/resources
Loving-kindness meditation changed my life.
Learn about this science-based practice (for free) and more from Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. https://ggia.berkeley.edu/
Want a free way to understand yourself and live a fuller life?
Still remote?
37 minute read from 15Five CEO David Hassell on working remotely (How does Medium calculate those times?)
https://medium.com/@dhassell/ceos-and-leaders-heres-how-to-prepare-for-an-extended-period-of-remote-work-14968f3d668e
Everyone is talking about resilience right now.
Here's a fantastic collection of free resources from Eudaimonic by Design, a collective of UPenn MAPP graduates who studied with Marty Seligman and other positive psychology legends: https://www.eudaimonicbydesign.com/resilience-resources
Capitalize on the power of small wins to fuel engagement in your organization.
More in this HBR article from Teresa Amabile: https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins
It is time to audit the time you spend in meetings?
Meetings can be extremely valuable, but 91% of people spend their time daydreaming and 73% doing other work. https://www.fundera.com/blog/does-this-need-a-meeting
Love how Headspace considers mindfulness an ancient art and modern science.
Headspace's notifications are as useful as the app, at least for me. Only app where I crank up the notifications. https://www.headspace.com/science
Why doesn't our education system focus on learning how to learn?
Here's Jim Kwik on doubling your learning speed:
Don't forget about interviews when building products - or anything else
Make time to interview at least these three types of users/buyers:
Power users and advocates
Former/churned users and buyers
New users and buyers
Balance quantitative data and qualitative data. Field observations (day-in-life and fly-on-wall) have been the most valuable research methods for me in my career; interviews are second.
Don't postpone happiness
I’ve made this mistake many times: postponing happiness or joy until something happens.
“Curing the negatives does not produce the positives.” - Seligman
I am grateful that (for me) focusing on the present moment (when I am able to do so) produces a positive experience of control and hope.
“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
PS One can find the present moment while doing anything, not just sitting and breathing.
https://www.headspace.com/meditation-101/what-is-meditation
You deserve to invest in yourself.
Make sure that you make time for yourself and take time for yourself.
Be selfish in a healthy way.
https://scottbarrykaufman.com/the-taboo-of-selfishness/
Grief can help us find meaning
Many are grieving right now due to COVID-19, racial injustice, and more.
Research suggests that grief has different facets: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Remember: Grief happens differently for everyone. Grief doesn’t happen in a linear order. Not everyone experiences every facet of grief.
David Kessell recently added meaning as another facet in Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. More on grief and meaning in HBR
This reminds me of the great teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and his work about transforming suffering into peace, joy, and liberation:
“Suffering is not enough. Life is both dreadful and wonderful...How can I smile when I am filled with so much sorrow? It is natural--you need to smile to your sorrow because you are more than your sorrow.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
When there's a crisis, people need...
Security
Safety
Connection
Hope
Adjust your leadership, culture, People programs, and even your marketing message accordingly.
With COVID-19, quick-service restaurant and food delivery commercials right now aren’t even about food. The focus is on safety: plexiglass shields and contact-less everything.
PS Did you know that Maslow probably didn’t represent his theory of needs as a pyramid?
https://scottbarrykaufman.com/who-created-maslows-iconic-pyramid/