The New Crop: Issue #81
cultivating more leaders + "4 lessons after 11 years in silicon valley"
What’s in this issue:
💭 Thought: Cultivating more leaders
😆 Today’s Laugh
💭 Today’s Thought
Bad teams, no one leads.
Average teams, coaches lead.
But elite teams, players lead.
- P.J. Fleck, Head Coach, University of Minnesota Football
Consider this: The measure of your ability as a leader is how well you cultivate more leaders.
Easier said than done of course! 🙂 Because we’re human, we often get in our own way when striving for this outcome. In my experience, here are just some behaviors that, if unchecked and/or misapplied, can leave your team stuck in “average” territory:
Holding onto work and/or decisions that others could do well, or learn how to do.
Being too “in the weeds” on a problem or project that others are handling.
Answering questions or making decisions about a project yourself, rather than giving space for the project lead to respond.
Failing to take accountability for your own mistakes.
Tolerating repeated poor performance or toxic behavior.
Jumping quickly into problem solving mode when your team brings you a challenge.
These actions are like water crashing against a rock: one wave isn’t going to do anything, but lots of waves over time can lead to erosion. Team members lose confidence and/or get too comfortable and the team stays average.
When tempted to intervene, keep work to yourself, or get into the nitty-gritty details, pause first to check in with yourself: Am I leaving enough space for others to lead? Then proceed based on the answer.
How many leaders will you cultivate?
🖊️ 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!):
Think about a leader you admire — someone who you feel helped you become a leader yourself. What things did they do and not do, to create space and opportunity for you to lead?
Where is leadership showing up and not on your team / in your organization?
What conditions and behaviors/approaches do you believe are necessary to cultivate great leaders?
📚 Today’s Read
4 Lessons After 11 Years in Silicon Valley
In this article, Ashley Mayer shares her lessons learned after 11 years of working in the tech industry:
There’s opportunity in what others undervalue.
There’s nothing more dangerous early in your career than success.
Some reputations are built on surprisingly little.
Your former co-workers are your rocks, so keep them close.
So many good takeaways in her experience — click here to read more!
See you next week!
xo,
Anne