A weekly breather for busy leaders in demanding times: bringing clarity & capability from my week as an exec coach, founder and C-suite advisor.
A VIEW FROM THE TOP
This week's theme: The problems that haven't happened yet
A surprising amount of the week's energy was going on things that hadn't actually happened yet.
Worried about bandwidth if they win a new piece of business. Low morale if an organisational change is driven through. The fallout if a popular but ineffective leader is exited.
None of it had happened, but all of it was taking up space.
Most leaders would call this being on top of things. You've been rewarded for seeing trouble coming, so you keep looking.
An old boss of mine used to say: don't make something a problem until it actually is one.
Imagining a problem never gives you any new information. It just spends your energy on something that doesn't exist yet. It may never happen, and if it does, deal with it then.
So ask one question: Does this deserve my energy?
If the answer is no, surely there are more important places to put your focus.
OTHER PEOPLE'S PEARLS
Two quotes from wiser people than me, picked for you this week.
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.
For when you've been running on empty and calling it normal.
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
For the conversation you already know you need to have.
SOMETHING COOL I FOUND FOR YOU
One link that's seriously worth your time
Ed Catmull, Pixar's co-founder and author of Creativity, Inc., on building a group that tells you the truth about your work, and why it only works when nobody in it has the power to overrule you.
Article, about 9 min read
This week, notice the problems that haven't happened yet, and give your attention to the ones that have.
Hit reply and let me know. I read every single email and would love to hear from you.
Sending good vibes,
Has
Beyond the newsletter, two ways I work with leaders: Mavericks Unlimited, executive coaching and strategy for CEOs, founders and their leadership teams, and tyllr, our development platform that helps managers thrive.