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.
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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
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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
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Principle #19 – Start where the other is. Ever had a conversation where you explained your point perfectly—clear logic, solid data, flawless delivery—and they still didn’t get it? That’s because you started from your mountain, not theirs. We love to think people will come around if we just talk louder or add another chart. But
Stop Arguing From Your Mountain. Start From Theirs. Read More »
Principle #18 – Communication is more than saying words. Ever leave a meeting thinking, “I heard every word, but I have no idea what they just said”? That’s because communication isn’t just words—it’s connection. We’ve all seen it: the sales rep powering through their pitch, oblivious to confused faces. Or the manager who sends a
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Principle #17 – Decisions go where they belong. Ever sat in a meeting thinking, “Why am I even deciding this?” If you’re honest, you probably have. Leaders often hoard decisions like Halloween candy, believing it’s “safer” if they approve everything. Spoiler: it’s not. It slows things down, burns you out, and disempowers the very people
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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 »
Principle #11 – Every solution is first a hypothesis. Reality test. Here’s a secret scientists know that many leaders forget: the first solution is almost always wrong. Or at least, incomplete. We fall in love with our ideas because they feel elegant and clever—“This will fix everything!” But in reality? Every solution is just a
Your Brilliant Idea Is Just a Hypothesis (Test It) Read More »