Over the past 32 years, I have…

🔸 Bridged the gap between management and factory shift workers

🔸 Worked in a toxic culture

🔸 Led an overland rock climbing expedition in the Americas

🔸 Had a front-row seat through being acquired by Google

🔸 Quit a dream job to start my own company

All of these, and more, have taught me tons about what matters in leadership (and life) and what doesn't.

Here are 5 ideas I offer if you want to expand your leadership range:

1. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

Slow creates moments of pause and spaciousness for creativity and insight to surface. Innovation and creativity require a little space.

2. Be with not knowing

There's a threshold around knowledge that stops action before it starts. You have an idea, but you tell yourself you either don't know enough to start, or you know too much - all the reasons it won't work, and quit before you begin.

Work on being okay with not knowing. Navigating uncertainty is a fundamental leadership capability.

3. Ask better questions

Stop looking for answers. They're seldom interesting when you find them. Surround yourself with people smarter than you and have them create answers.

You create the most value and impact when you look for better-quality questions. Better questions are fuel for your people.

4. Context not control

Have a vision and an opinion about the future. This gives you something to aim for. And don't be attached to it. Create space for others to contribute and co-create.

Every worthwhile undertaking requires teamwork. If you do the work then what emerges is likely to be better than you can imagine today.

5. Be wrong more.

Fail fast. Take action. You'll create success or lessons.

When you dream big enough, success will require personal transformation.

When you dream big enough, expect more lessons than successes.

Being wrong, and learning lessons is progress.

Celebrate all of it.

#actsofleadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershiplessons #cxocoach #executivecoach

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