Assumptions Are Expensive
No one budgets for assumptions. They don’t show up on a P&L. They don’t appear in a post-mortem. But assumptions are one of the most consistently expensive things happening inside organizations today. A manager assumes an employee understood. The work goes in the...The Employee You Misunderstood
Think about an employee who disappointed you. Someone who didn’t meet expectations. Someone you eventually labeled as disengaged, resistant, or not the right fit. Now ask yourself: Did you fully understand what was driving their behavior? Or did you become certain you...
Certainty Is Often Assumptions in Disguise
Most leaders don’t wake up intending to make poor decisions. Most managers genuinely care about their employees. Most executives want their organizations to succeed. Yet organizations continue to struggle with hiring mistakes, performance issues, team conflict,...What Else Might Be True?
When you’re frustrated by a person or situation, your brain will offer an explanation almost immediately. Sometimes that explanation is accurate. Often it’s incomplete. The explanation arrives fast because certainty feels useful. It gives you something to act on. But...Leaders Mistake Their Perspective for Reality
One of the most common leadership traps isn’t arrogance.And it isn’t inexperience.It’s certainty.We experience a situation. We interpret it. We draw a conclusion.Then we act as though our interpretation is the complete truth.The certainty feels earned.It usually isn’t...You Were Certain About a Hire.
You were certain about a hire. Six months later, they were gone. Not because you made a careless decision. Because the certainty felt completely justified at the time. The interview went well. The resume was strong. Your gut said yes. Looking back, it becomes easier...I Already Explained That
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen this happen. A manager is frustrated because an employee isn’t meeting expectations. The employee is frustrated because they thought they were. Both are convinced the problem is on the other side of the conversation. The...
Is Your True North, South of the Equator?
The economic recovery in 2021 will put a premium on execution. Why? Well, many companies got lean in 2020, and are doing more with less. Plus, the operating environment in 2021 will be more stable and predictable. 2020 was a year when a lot of companies had to change...