The worst or best article I’ve never written.

Writing to me, is a puzzle, like jumping headfirst into a rabbit hole while looking for nuggets of clarity and completeness. That is why I have so many unfinished articles. So for this one, I'm trying something new by bringing in an AI team of writing partners and going on a retrospective journey into the three themes I incorporated into past articles.

?

Theme 1: Make it right

I often write about negative moments in my career and how they can positively shape the type of person and leader I want to be. I explored the bright side of having an absentee leader in?5 Ways to Get the Most from the Worst. (January 2020, Linkedin)?

The absentee manager brings minimum coaching and maximum sentencing. This person is so self important that engaging with the team isn't a priority. These types of annual reviews create a transactional dark hole, where the absence of substance and rapport push talent to a more nurturing environment. One big meeting is useless, especially to someone you haven't taken an interest in. Being a transformational leader means creating an affinity with your talent by showing you care and they are wanted. So break up annual big block reviews, into small meetings where you can provide guidance and iterative ways to improve.

Theme 2: Make it doable

My favorite business books provide basic creative ideas and antidotes that can be quickly actioned for immediate impact. In the middle of the pandemic, I wrote about making human connections and distributing gratitude, called for a new technique in?I've never met most of my new hires. Here's how I got to know them better than my office mates. (January 2022, FastCompany)

When people are not face-to-face, showing digital heart-to-heart appreciation for their contributions doesn't come naturally or frequently. The digital world can actually help you amplify your gratitude. One easy activity starts with posing this question to your immediate leadership team: "Think of how fortunate we are to be in this meeting making decisions that impact others. Reflect over the last few days. Is there someone who had a positive impact on you?" Proceed by asking for two to three people to say the person's name and what they did. Finally, ask everyone to open their emails and send a quick appreciation email to those individuals. Then wait a moment and ask the group to read aloud the responses they get. And if you really want to amplify it, ask your team to do this exercise with their own team.

Theme 3: Make it personal

Since I take business personally, I stay away from hypothetical and write about real experiences and people contributing to your career and happiness. In?You've Been Escalated: A Guide to Instigating Change. (May 2017, Strategy+Business)?I focused on the challenges of being the disruptive, status quo challenger and how to navigate to productive outcomes.

Being escalated doesn't necessarily mean you screwed up. It simply means that you triggered a reaction from someone. Perhaps you haven't been clear enough about your purpose or your logic, and thus you weren't quite ready to make your case. Moreover, you probably work at a great company. (After all, you chose to accept the offer to work there.) Take time periodically to stop and reflect on all the great things that your company has accomplished. Take 15 minutes, an hour, or even a day to think through your perspective and your options before you ignite a situation.

My new writing partners went through a hundred articles in seconds, proofed all my mistakes, and helped me understand how I like to write. Yesterday writing was a solo endeavor, but now I feel bionic, and the rabbit hole has been filled with AI. Thank you to my writing team; proofreader Grammarly, editor ChatGPT, and illustrator DALL-E.