Theranos' Odd Board; Better Goal-Setting ; Family Ghosts ; the Great Resignation Hits Politics & Why the First 5 Minutes of a Meeting Matters Most

POWER UP

One Lesson from the Theranos Board Scandal: We Need Age Diversity on Corporate Boards

“But corporate America’s boards haven’t evolved much since the 20th century. Too white and too male, they are being forced by social pressure and regulatory mandates to recruit more women and people of color. These boards are also too old and out of touch, rife with industrial-era yes-men who are beholden to their CEOs and ill-equipped for the digital age.” (Jamaal Glenn, Time)

Leading or Lagging: A Playbook for Goal-Setting That Works

“Goal setting in most businesses is wildly flawed and frequently meaningless. Many companies are chasing lag metrics like revenue or profitability without knowing what variables truly drive those measures. Put simply, we’re trying to affect something that’s already happened which is akin to chasing our tails. So, how do you lead people to pursue your company’s most critical priorities in a smart, meaningful way?” (Denise Conroy, LinkedIn)

Family Ghosts in the Executive Suite

“Professional growth can get stymied for all sorts of reasons. But one of the most important is rarely discussed: You’re contending with ghosts from your past. Fundamental attitudes and behaviors that evolved from the family dynamics of your childhood have traveled with you into the present—and into the office. Those dynamics taught you a lot about authority, mastery, and identity.” (Deborah Ancona & Dennis N.T. Perkins, Harvard Business Review)

Why Did Keisha Lance Bottoms Quit?

“That’s where Bottoms started to cry. I’ve been crying a lot lately,” she admitted, wiping away tears. The tears could mean a lot of things at this point: pride or disappointment or relief that it’s all going to be over soon. Bottoms’s time in office has been marked by dizzying highs (she was on the shortlist to become?Joe Biden's vice-president in 2020) and shocking lows, like her sudden announcement in May that, after a solitary term, she wouldn’t run for reelection that fall.” (Zak Cheney-Rice, New York Magazine)

Why the First 5 Minutes of a Meeting Shape Its Outcome

“Meetings that just happen by default waste precious time, invite poor decisions, add to exhaustion, and fray relationships.?The basic idea is that to support people and move critical objectives forward, leaders need to ask themselves four questions: Why are you meeting? Who needs to be there? What conversation needs to happen? And how can you create the conditions that will enable that conversation?”?(Elizabeth Doty, Strategy + Business)

THE BUZZ

RECHARGE: WHAT TO READ, WATCH & LISTEN TO

?? Middle England by Jonathan Coe

I learned about Jonathan Coe’s novel Middle England through a Medium article about the best reads of last year. It did not disappoint. This rich, character-driven story takes place during Brexit. Coe does a masterful job at explaining the collective British ethos through the distinct eyes of his fascinating characters. His writing is beautiful in its own right. If you like Ian McKewan, you’ll like Jonathan Coe.

?? How Britain Falls Apart: A Road Trip through the Ancient Past and Shaky Future of the (dis) United Kingdom by Tom McTague, The Atlantic

“The grim reality?for Britain as it faces up to 2022 is that no other major power on Earth stands quite as close to its own dissolution.” That’s the opening line to Tom McCague’s article on the current state of affairs in the United Kingdom. This article showed up in my newsfeed right after I read Middle England. For me, it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. If you want insight into the “national sentiment” of America’s oldest ally, this sobering piece will satisfy your curiosity.

?? And Just Like That… (HBO Max)

I was a huge fan of Sex and the City. Who wasn’t? What I loved most about Darren Star’s adaptation of Candace Bushnell’s book was the riveting, hilarious cadence of its dialogue. It was smartly written and resonated with women. Let’s face it: we identify with each of the characters because they so accurately capture the well-roundedness of each of us.

I was eager for the show’s reboot And Just Like That…The HBO Max limited series has been panned on multiple fronts for everything from cultural misappropriation to the aging characters. Yes, these women had the audacity to age, and some ridiculous critics have taken issue with that.

I like the 55 year-old versions of Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte, probably because they’re navigating the same issues my friends and I are: death of loved ones, career dissatisfaction, marriage and kids. It’s a hell of a lot more real than the original series. I’m here for it.

?? Yellowstone & 1883 (Paramount & Apple iTunes)

If you’re not watching Taylor Sheridan’s two masterpieces…well, why not? Yellowstone is the modern-day story of the Dutton Family, owners of the Yellowstone Ranch in Wyoming. The ranch has been the family’s business since the late 1800’s, and the show chronicles the dysfunctional Dutton family dynamic and the increasing challenges of running an antiquated business that finds itself fitting into the world less and less. Kevin Costner leads a star-studded cast that includes Cole Hauser and Wes Bentley. My personal favorite is Kelly Reilly’s character Beth, an at-once terrifying and admirable adversary.

1883 is the prequel to Yellowstone and stars Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The show chronicles the pioneer Duttons of Tennessee as they make their way to Wyoming. McGraw and Hill play James and Margaret Dutton, John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner’s) great grandparents. Sam Elliott is the former Union officer who guides the Duttons and an unprepared, ill-equipped group of Europeans across the country.

My favorite character in the show is Elsa Dutton, John’s great aunt played by Isabel May. May is the narrator for the show. Her reading of prose in a lilting Tennessee accent and wide-eyed portrayal of a young pioneer woman is not to be missed. If you’ve ever wondered what your pioneer ancestors might have endured to chase the American dream, this show uncovers some of the mystery and gives you a look at the roots of our traumatized nation.