Don't Confuse 'Being in the Office' With 'Culture'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hybrid workers feel more connected to their organization's culture than others
- Culture affects productivity, employee flourishing, employer brand and more
- Managers experience the hybrid workplace differently, and they're struggling
^ADJ: I hear being in the office equates to magic culture building and wonder well if that is true, how come some businesses can operate entirely remotely, and thrive and grow faster than their competitors - what are they doing, and others are not?
This article supports something that I have been arguing for, we need to do more to support, train, mentor and lead middle management.
How to Pull Off a Personal Annual Review
A no-fuss, intuitive way to take stock and map your priorities
^ADJ: It is coming up to the end of the year, why not get a head start on 2023 and use the break to figure out how to make 2023 even better!
Quick Takes from books I have finished this week
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard - offers a practical framework on change, how to initiate, support and make enduring change. My big takeout was scripting the moves (ahead of time) that is going to support the change initiative.
The Managers Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change - recommended read for any manager involved in managing technical professionals, especially those new to management. Two takeouts, 1. A good reminder as to getting some of the basics right - consistently. 2. Asking your team a question that requires a bit of thought how do you truly want to be managed, to get the best out of you?
THE BEST LEADERS DON’T SHOUT - a good easy read for anyone in General Management as a reminder about what it is to be a leader, and simple but effective tips to bring about growth and change. Three things that stuck with me, 1. What are the critical success factor for each role, 2. What are the 5 biggest things getting in the way of our strategy 3. A reminder about the value of process mapping
Islands of Profit ins a Sea of Red Ink - the author makes an argument that a lot of business (upwards of 40% of revenue) is done at a loss or best case breakeven, and that you should have a strategy to identify and address this. The book has a manufacturing and supply chain focus, but the lessons are equally applicable to service led businesses.
Ego Is the Enemy of Good Leadership
The inflated ego that comes with success – the bigger salary, the nicer office, the easy laughs – often makes us feel as if we’ve found the eternal answer to being a leader. But the reality is, we haven’t. An inflated ego makes us susceptible to manipulation; it narrows our field of vision; and it corrupts our behavior, often causing us to act against our values. Breaking free of an overly-protective or inflated ego and avoiding the leadership bubble is an important and challenging job that requires selflessness, reflection, and courage.
^ADJ: Why I think you should read this, its a good reminder (certainly was for me)
Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal
“It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” William Bridges
The best CEOs use the first six to 12 months of their tenure as a moment of great personal transition and institutional renewal. There are four keys to success.
^ADJ: I would argue that you don’t need to be a new CEO to use these four ideas, the opportunity to reset presents itself with the new year, and a challenging economic environment.