Last Week's Leadership Lessons - January 30, 2023
John M. Jaramillo, MBA, MSOP
Leadership Performance Coach & Consultant | Leadership Design & Branding | Podcast Host??| Executive Advisor | Freelance Writer ?? | Speaker
Lessons From The Week of January 23, 2023
Reader Beware: If you were here last time, you know the drill. Please feel free to jump right on ahead to the list of stories. If not, read from here on to understand what I'm trying to capture in this series.
Talking about leadership can be boring as hell!
We're always seeing and hearing the same old definitions, constructs, and formal tips related to and regurgitated about the leadership field, every so often punctuated by a perpetually rotating door of the latest industry buzzwords.
Even with all its great energy and intention, the themes and hopes of the leadership discipline, admittedly, can become a little monotonous -- without great stories and living examples to wake them up.
(Granted, I post about them as well. Guilty. So I guess maybe I mean "overkill." The?overkill?of your run-of-the-mill leadership ideas is what I'm trying to supplement -- and maybe unlock -- here through more unique takes and lenses.)
Hence why I launched this series.
In this series, I want to capture themes and ideas for leadership -- while being particularly cautious that they not be necessarily conveyed as leadership lessons in the articles or sources I cite. I want to find examples that demonstrate more lessons about HUMANITY than the usual script of clichéd leadership building blocks.
The way the world is going, I think it's essential to think about and take in more lessons on humanity in general than leadership specifically. And it's not like I'm forsaking one for the other; the former should inform and be the foundation for the latter. (That's just me. That's just my take.)
And to be clear, these valuable lessons, as I express them, aren't carved in stone. My translations aren't absolute. They can't be. It's not that simple. I think that's what gets us in trouble when it comes to learning (or not) about society and each other (or anything, really): Most issues are typically seen as black and white, left and right, up and down, one side or the other. But again, it's not that simple. Not everything can be. We force it to be that way. In most instances -- not all, but in most -- there is room for interpretation and different ideas and views to be exchanged somewhere on the middle ground. More nuance exists than we typically see -- or will admit.
And in that nuance there's beauty. Because in that nuance we can learn from each other. And because of that nuance, each of my interpretations is just one option for consideration in that middle ground of learning.
All that being said, below are three stories I came across last week that have valuable lessons for leadership, purpose, and expression. In reading these articles, you may find the lessons for leadership may not immediately stand out or reveal themselves -- and that's because lessons can range from the loud, obvious, and obnoxious to the subtle, unassuming, and hidden.
And although the source materials are not all leadership-related per se, their talking points can all apply to leadership -- in terms of how you present yourself, navigate through life and work, and move, impact, inspire, and appreciate others.
Even if you feel you've already crafted your leadership to where you want it to be and the results clearly show it -- where others can get behind them and vouch for you -- it never hurts to continue learning from your fellow human beings, whether you know them or not.
Gestures, speeches, action, inaction, decisions, announcements, etc. They all tie in.
So bear with me. Some of them might seem like a stretch. But have some faith that I may be crazy...but not?too?crazy.
This practice is merely an exercise in learning about ourselves, where we can improve, and how we can evolve.
Lessons are everywhere.
1. The Bucket List of Legacy
Thirteen years after her father was killed in a tragic car accident, Laura Carney found her father's unfinished bucket list, crumpled up inside some other of his effects. Immediately she sensed it was her calling to experience and live out the remaining 54 items in honor of her father. In the article, Laura speaks to why she did it, what she felt throughout the process, seeing it through to completion, and what it meant for her, especially after having lost her father in such traumatic fashion.
Leadership Lesson: This is a reminder for us all to consider how we want to live in our relationships. How do you live for others? How do you show them where they stand in your life, expressing it before they're gone? The circumstances of Laura's father's death were obviously beyond her control. But what can you control and demonstrate today to someone in your life before it's too late? Short of finishing someone's bucket list when they're gone, what do you have to (want to) tell them today? Too often, we wait to eulogize -- in whatever fashion, whether formal or not, whether they've passed or not -- those who were with us. We tend to wait until they can no longer hear it to share what they truly meant to us, with full emotion, sincerity, and detail. Instead of waiting until the end, though, live in the moment. Don't save passion, love, appreciation, consideration, congratulations, etc., for later. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
So many obstacles leaders (whether formal leaders or not) face originate in their mind -- through their lens of views and interpretations. They limit their confidence and lose their focus by doubting their value and questioning their ability. To help offset that, more often we should work to share what we see in each other. It's amazing what we hold on to and don't share with others about what their value and presence mean to us. If you consider it and feel comfortable sharing more of what you see in others, sharing it might make a world of difference for both of you and the other person, and your relationship. What gets unlocked from someone hearing words of admiration can be both incredible and life-changing.
The Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/01/20/bucket-list-father-laura-carney-daughter/
2. The Source Of The Slap Heard Around The World
During a recent interview, actress Nia Long made a veiled reference to Will's Smith's slapping host Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars Awards ceremony. A decades-long friend and former co-star of Smith's, Long shares that she believes he's been under a lot of pressure throughout his career, constantly in the public eye, not able to live a normal life. Nowadays, she believes people can share -- and are sharing -- more of their human, personal sides. Hopefully, I'm assuming, she doesn't believe the hit was justified but is instead speaking to the intense pressure than can take hold under the surface of such world-wide celebrity and success, ultimately leading to a triggered moment that can unleash so much built-up negative energy.
Leadership Lesson: If we want to understand people, we need to keep an open mind and heart to what people are going through. Granted -- and obviously -- they have a responsibility to channel (as best they can) any trauma or pressure they've felt. So, this isn't to say we should forgive and forget -- not at all. This is more about understanding the real source of what's transpired.
In our everyday leadership, how do we put our emotional intelligence on display by taking a moment to understand what others might be going through? And how do we understand ourselves, for that matter? Is there something unresolved stewing deep within us that will boil over at any moment, ready to be triggered by other circumstances that are beyond our control. Take care of yourself (...and each other. <JS>).
领英推荐
3. Yes, Stupid Is As...
The gist of the article, from the Theory of Stupidity section in this piece: "...stupidity should be viewed as worse than?evil . Stupidity has far greater potential to damage our lives. More harm is done by one powerful idiot than a gang of Machiavellian schemers." Read the rest of that last section.
Stupidity is fucking scary, man. Let's be honest. "Stupid" will mean different things to different people, but, shit, if we haven't all been surrounded by its rampant nature and energy for years now. The article makes a good point: More or less, evil is extreme and can be rare, and there are more stupid people than evil. Evil is sharper, more focused whereas stupid is clumsy, ignorant, does what it pleases without consideration to the consequences. It's a bull in a china shop. (Don't tell my toddler I essentially just called him stupid.)
Leadership Lesson: In leadership, how do you deal with those people who are clumsy, ignorant, inconsiderate, etc. Essentially, how do you deal with the adult-toddlers sharing the same air as you. You need to keep your eyes open to those who can do you harm and derail your progress with their clumsiness. Don't underestimate anyone's ability to just be sloppy and thoughtless. How do you prepare for and counteract that dangerous ignorance, whether it's in your personal life, work, or business?
Another question to seriously consider: Are you that person?
The Article: https://bigthink.com/thinking/bonhoeffers-theory-stupidity-evil/
Honorable Mention
Hey Google! What Are The definitions of "Tact" and "Respect"?
Are we still fucking doing this? How does this still happen? Who is it in this day and age who believes this can still happen and word won't get out?
Leadership Lesson: Don't do this.
The Article: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-layoffs-alphabet-jobs-pichai-email-slap-in-the-face-2023-1
Follow-Up
Art Should Come Out Of You
Last week , in #2 on the list, I covered Rick Rubin and an example of each the praise and criticism he's received for his book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
Rubin's close friend and collaborator, Public Enemy leader Chuck D, had his own response to Rubin's creative process, specifically as it relates to Rubin's self-deprecating humility about his musical approach, vision, and technical prowess.
D had this to say: "On Rick Rubin I will tell you this. Art is what you feel no one should tell you what Art should come out of you. He gets that... Rick feels you out in a sea of others wanting the same thing."
Leadership Lesson: Your vision and skill originates out of you. Yes, there are scripts out there for what leadership is supposed to be. Yes, the cliches and the buzzwords set a sturdy skeleton for our leadership anatomy. But the heart, mind, and soul of that body are what bring it to life. So, as the foundations are the structure -- the bones of the discipline -- each leader brings their own insight, flare, approach -- and art -- to the table to make it move. Don't lose your uniqueness. Your uniqueness is your gift.
That's it! That's the list for this week.
What other examples of leadership lessons – maybe even those that aren’t so apparent and obvious – do you come across in your everyday life and work?
What have you read lately that offers some insight on being human and navigating life -- and yes, by default, leadership.
Reach out and let me know what you think of these. Please share your own if you've found articles or stories with great lessons or insights that can contribute to how we carry ourselves through our lives and work.
Covered In Previous Posts
January 23, 2023 ?- Leadership Vulnerability / Creativity / Respect