Principle #35 – Gratitude is contagious. Pass it on. In a high-tech startup, speed is everything. We push code at 2 a.m., pivot on product direction before breakfast, and celebrate funding rounds with coffee instead of champagne. It’s intense, chaotic, and easy to forget one thing: gratitude. But here’s what I’ve learned as a senior […]
The Viral Power of Gratitude Read More »
Principle #30: When in doubt, spread accountability out. Picture this: an office where one poor soul is in charge of everything—cleaning the breakroom, unclogging the coffee machine, fixing the flickering lights, and somehow still managing their “real” job. Result? Burnout, frustration, and probably a sticky floor. In leadership, we often make the same mistake: dumping
When in Doubt, Share the Mop Read More »
Principle #28: Manager means accountability for team results. Picture a football coach bragging: “Our quarterback had a perfect game, our kicker nailed every field goal… sure, we lost 42–10, but look at those stats!” Ridiculous, right? That’s what happens when managers focus only on individual performance and forget that their accountability is for team results.
Coaching Means the Whole Team, Not Just Star Players Read More »
Principle #23 – Diagnose before you prescribe. If doctors worked like some leaders, they’d say:“You’re coughing? Here’s surgery. Also, take these horse pills.” Ridiculous, right? Yet in business, we do it all the time—jumping to solutions before we even understand the problem. Quick fixes feel good, like handing out aspirin for every ache. But if
Stop Handing Out Business Aspirin Read More »
Principle #21 – Don’t get stuck addressing symptoms. Quick fixes feel good, don’t they? A problem pops up, you swoop in, and—boom—issue resolved. Cue the hero music. But then it pops up again. And again. That’s not hero work; that’s hamster wheel work. When we only treat symptoms, we accidentally feed the problem. We create
Your Quick Fixes Are Making It Worse Read More »
Principle #20 – Coauthor. More minds, more better. We love the romantic image of the lone genius: one brilliant person, one whiteboard, one lightning-bolt idea. But let’s be honest—most “solo brilliance” dies on the whiteboard. Breakthrough solutions don’t come from one perspective; they come from multiple minds colliding and refining ideas together. It’s messier, sure,
Your Lone Genius Act Is Overrated—Try Coauthoring Instead Read More »
Principle #16 – Trust comes after cooperation. In that order. We love to talk about “building trust” in teams, as if it’s a mystical aura you conjure with enough vulnerability exercises and inspirational posters. But here’s the kicker: trust doesn’t show up first. Cooperation does. Think about it—most of us say, “I’ll trust them when
Want Trust? Stop Waiting. Start Cooperating. Read More »
Principle #12 – Real skin-in-the-game creates true accountability. Ever notice how people take way better care of rental cars when the deposit is $500? That’s skin in the game—when the outcomes of a decision hit you directly. Why It Works Accountability isn’t about job titles or performance reviews. It’s about feeling the impact of your
Want Accountability? Add a Price Tag Read More »
People Energy Principle #9 – People do things for reasons, not always the reasons they give you. You’ve been there:A key project is running late. You finally corner the responsible person and ask why. They look you in the eye and give you a perfectly reasonable explanation—unexpected delays, busy schedule, competing priorities. Sounds legit. You
The Story They Tell You Isn’t Always the Whole Story. Read More »
People Energy Principle #8 – Each human is uniquely wired for something. Notice this. Every person on your team comes wired with a unique mix of talents, quirks, and passions. Some have laser focus; others are idea factories. Some thrive in chaos; others need structure like oxygen. Yet too many leaders treat people like one-size-fits-all
Stop Treating People Like Interchangeable Office Furniture Read More »