The New Crop: Issue #30
dogs in costume + penguin circles + the feedback equation
What’s in this issue:
💭 Thought: The power of “penguin circles”
📚 Read: The Feedback Equation
😆 Today’s Laugh
It’s officially the month of Halloween. 🎃 To celebrate, here are some adorable doggos all dressed to go trick-or-treating:
💭 Today’s Thought
During times of exposure to harsh winter winds, penguins form a huddled circle.
The youngest members stay in the middle — where it’s warmest — and the adults stay on the outside.
Just like penguins, human beings need support from others, especially during tough times. We are not meant to tackle life’s toughest challenges alone.
Unlike penguins, human beings have a harder time asking for and receiving the help we need. It’s hard to admit when we need to be in the middle of the circle.
But what if asking for help when we’re struggling was an assumed part of the human experience, just like it is for penguins?
What if we were flat out expected to be a young penguin every once in a while? No stigmas, no judgment (from ourselves or others).
Leadership at times can feel isolating. How might you develop, nurture, and lean on your own “penguin circle”? 🐧
🖊️ Today’s reflection
If you’re new to journaling, I highly encourage you to read Nancy Adler’s article: Want to be an outstanding leader? Keep a journal.
This week, find a quiet place and gift yourself 10 minutes to reflect on any of these prompts (or invent your own!):
Who’s in your circle? Who do you turn to, and for what kind of support? Make a list, noting what each person supports you with.
Is anything or anyone missing from your circle? In what area(s) of your life might you need some extra support, and how can you get it?
Where are you already serving as an “adult penguin” for others? Whom are you supporting and with what? Make a list.
When do you find it hardest and easiest to be 1) an “adult penguin” for others and 2) a “young penguin”?
📚 Today’s Read
Struggling with giving feedback effectively? Check out Lara Hogan’s Feedback Equation Worksheet, to help you construct feedback that’s straightforward, clear, and has a higher likelihood of being well received.
See you next week!
xo,
Anne