Knowledge is Power
Welcome to the 102nd edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.
Story of the Week: "Knowledge is Power"
During a recent presentation at Metlen Energy & Metals in Athens, one of the speakers said that Amazon knows you better than your own company does, even though you might only interact with Amazon for two or three minutes a week.
It didn’t take long for me to conclude that he was absolutely right.
Through its algorithms, Amazon uses the smallest details of your preferences, your habits and your needs to create a picture of who you are. On the other hand, many companies and organisations may spend years with their people and still fail to truly see, know and understand them. Of course, workplace relationships aren’t algorithmic – they’re meant to be authentic. Yet, without paying attention to our people and caring for them, we risk losing that connection.
When it was my turn to take the stage, I proposed a gamification remedy for this. Drawing on the work of Amy Edmondson, Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, I introduced six simple yet profound questions, designed to help leaders foster psychological safety in the workplace and better understand their teams. These questions are not mine – they were formulated by leadership development expert and author Jean Marie DiGiovanna – but I’ve found them invaluable in my work with teams and organisations. Here they are:
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These questions are a gateway to creating a team dynamic where individuals feel seen, heard and valued. For this to work, the environment must be psychologically safe – a place where people can express themselves openly and honestly. By asking them, you will not only bring about greater collaboration but you will also gain a deeper understanding of the people you work with every day.
In a world where technology is paying attention to our every action, it’s up to us as leaders to nurture genuine relationships. Start with these six questions. They’re simple, effective and, most importantly, authentic.
Words of Wisdom
“The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.” Proverbs 24:5
A Question to Ponder, dear friend.
How well do you know each individual member of your team? Does Amazon know more?
General Manager Oman | Fellow CIM-Chartered Marketer |Develop Organizations to achieve Excellence & Sustainability|
2 个月Nice one profound insight to gauge our outset right way to cruise on.
Benefits Specialist at Metlen Energy & Metals
2 个月I couldn't agree more with your perspective. While technology, like Amazon's algorithms, can know us in ways we might not even realize, it’s the personal, human connections that truly define a successful team. Leaders must make a conscious effort to understand their people beyond their roles. These six questions are a powerful tool to bridge that gap. It’s not just about knowing what motivates someone but about creating an environment where people feel seen, heard, and valued. In the end, the most effective leadership comes from authentic, meaningful relationships—something algorithms can never replace.
Director, International Corporate Banking at CDB Bank
2 个月Fully agree my friend. I would even rephrase to ''Knowledge IS the power''!..
Personal development & Mindset | MSc of Social Neuroscience, Social Pedagogy and Education
2 个月Πολ? ενδιαφ?ρον το post σου Michael R. Virardi μου για ακ?μη μια φορ?! Και οι ερωτ?σει? εξαιρετικε?!! Πρ?γματι, οι σωστ?? ερωτ?σει? μπορο?ν να κ?νουν τη διαφορ? στην απ?δοση και τη δυναμικ? μια? ομ?δα?. Αναρωτι?μαι ?μω?, π?σο συχν? ε?μαστε πραγματικ? ?τοιμοι να αξιοποι?σουμε τη γν?ση που λαμβ?νουμε; Η γν?ση απ? μ?νη τη? δεν αρκε?, αν δεν ?χουμε αναπτ?ξει την ικαν?τητα να την εφαρμ?σουμε και, ?σω? πιο σημαντικ?, την ωριμ?τητα να ακο?σουμε ενεργ? και να εργαστο?με π?νω σε αυτ?. Θα ε?χε ενδιαφ?ρον να δο?με π?? μπορο?ν οι ηγ?τε? να υποστηρ?ξουν αυτ? τη μετ?βαση – απ? τη λ?ψη γν?ση? στη δρ?ση και τη μεταμ?ρφωση. Ποια ε?ναι η γν?μη σου π?νω σε αυτ?;
Professor of Management Education at UCL
2 个月Very very interesting! The ability to know your customers better than their own family was identified by Barbie in the 1950s. The company founder Ruth Handler said exactly this. She found out as much as possible about the girls who played with the dolls and the people who bought the dolls (parents and aunts) for the girls to play with. They ran a huge customer intelligence operation all through and it was one of the assets that Mattel bought when they bough Ruth Handler out. Do everyone look at the Barbie story - it is absolutely fascinating. And if you can make a global empire out of dolls then there are lessons for everyone!