Better Results Faster
"What do you think…?" is a request for input. Unlike seeking direction from others, requesting input is a sign of confidence, not weakness. What's surprising is that more people don't ask that question – particularly people onboarding into new jobs. Onboarding is not a game. It's not a test. It's a time to move from [...]
Wharton professor Len Lodish used to say "It's better to be vaguely right than precisely wrong". That thought has helped me prioritize things for a long time and keep my eyes on the big picture. It's probably even better to think in terms of "Get vaguely right, then precisely right." Think about playing a golf [...]
For a new leader converging and evolving is generally the right approach to their own onboardign. Purely assimilating into a new organization is the easiest and safest approach over the short term, but has no impact. Shocking the system has the most immediate impact, but almost always leads to a systemic revolt against the intruder. [...]
In general, the more prepared you and your organization are for a crisis, the better you will handle it. This is not about preparing in detail for every possible permutation of every possible crisis. Instead it's about building general capabilities and capacity – discipline and agility. John Harrald argues the need for both discipline (structure, [...]
At first, Nathaniel did not buy the concept that he should start before his “official” Day One. He wanted to take some time off so that he could show up at his new job rested and relaxed. Further, he felt uncomfortable asking for meetings before he was “officially” on the job. Eventually he agreed to try [...]