The Lever
Effective leadership and bulletproof operations using principles of Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) // Lessons learned on land & at sea
The Lever #082: The Rule of 3 and 10
Welcome to issue No. 082 of the Lever Hiroshi Mikitani grew his company from 6 employees in 1997 to ~29,334 today. So he knows a thing or two about business growth. What he discovered was that your management systems break down at regular intervals, requiring a full rebuild. He calls this the Rule of 3's and 10's. When you are just starting out and only have three people on your team you don’t need complex systems. Communication is easy, the tools are simple, and everybody knows what...
081: Are You A Manager Or A Leader?
Leader v Manager Welcome to issue No. 081 of the Lever I read something recently that I just can't shake: "Almost every book on leadership I've ever read was about management and written by a manager who thought he was a leader" It’s a fine line between the two. And there is a level of cognitive dissonance created here that often gets ignored. But first... I've posted over 80 articles here on topics ranging from productivity & time management, to leadership and business principles. Your...
The Lever #080: The Care and Feeding of Monkeys
Too many monkeys Welcome to issue No. 080 of the Lever Obligations are like monkeys. They jump around, take up space, and need to be fed or they'll starve. And you take responsibility for your teams monkeys without even realizing it. But first... This post is inspired by an old HBR article by William Oncken, Jr. and Donald L. Wass. Link to the original down below. Let’s say somebody walks into your office with a question: “Hey boss, I need some help with this project,” they say, holding up a...
The Lever #079: The Managers Toolkit
The Managers Toolkit Welcome to issue No. 079 of the Lever When I shifted careers from working offshore to working onshore, one of my new responsibilities was to write reports. Not just any reports; technical reports with specific criteria and guidelines that needed to be followed. I wasn't very good at it in the beginning. But I got better over time. Exposure and practice helped, sure, but the real key to improvement was the instruction and encouragement I was given by my manager. Before we...
The Lever #078: Mission Vision Values
The roadmap to success Welcome to issue No. 078 of the Lever How important is it to define your company's Mission, Vision, and Values? I believe it is the most important thing. But too often it turns into a cut & paste exercise, if it's even done at all. Here is what I've learned from leading successful MVV workshops: Before we start... Crafting a compelling vision means communicating it well. And clear communication follows the ABC's Accuracy Brevity Concise The best guide I've read on...
The Lever #077: Why New Leaders Fail
Welcome to issue No. 077 of the Lever Up to 60% of new leaders fail within the first 18 months in the role. Here are the top 7 reasons why this happens. But first, a book recommendation: Communication is one of the three core skills of effective leaders. The Pyramid Principle is my favorite book on the subject. It was written by a Mickinsey consultant to help people communicate complex topics in clear language. Not an affiliate link! Just a great book on communication. You finally got the new...
The Lever #076: Principles Based Leadership
Welcome to issue No. 076 of the Lever The fastest way to become an effective leader isn’t tactics on how to give feedback, or keep a meeting on track. The fastest way to become an effective leader is to: • Adopt a handful of principles• Communicate them • Act accordingly This is what I mean But First... Check out this free course from 16-year leadership vet Julia Snedkova. As an ICF certified coach, Julia helps people level up and lead with impact. Get it over on X. What is a Principle? You...
The Lever #075: I Hate the Phrase "Managing Up"
Welcome to issue No. 075 of the Lever I hate the phrase "managing up". It sounds gross and prideful. Like your boss is a problem to be solved for. It implies incompetence, and that only YOU have the knowledge and skills needed to "save the day". And it gives you a convenient out when things go wrong. "I've been telling them that! If only they'd listened to ME." But the reality of your relationship with your boss is far more nuanced than that. And your upward communication needs a far less...
The Lever #074: Leadership is Influence
Leadership is Influence Welcome to issue No. 074 of the Lever Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less John C. Maxwell Maxwell’s famous quote means that the ability to influence others to achieve more than they think is possible is what defines great leadership. This also means that leadership is not determined by your title, because true leadership is earned through influence. So how do you influence people? You can tell them what to do, but if they aren’t following willingly then...
The Lever #073 - Mistakes Are A Trigger For Improvement
Don't sweep mistakes under the rug Welcome to issue No. 073 of the Lever Mistakes happen. People are fallible. You, me, all of us. So what do you do when somebody makes a mistake on your watch? Before we start... You don't need a title to make an impact. Regardless of your position, you can make an impact in your own way and feel good doing it. Check out this free 7-day email course from startup CEO Andrea Michalek. It will get you started quickly with the right tools, mindset, and momentum....
Effective leadership and bulletproof operations using principles of Human & Organizational Performance (HOP) // Lessons learned on land & at sea