Leadership Sucks: Embracing the craft of Leadership Clifden Consulting
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- Business
Leadership can be thankless, frustrating, and just plain hard. It can also be really rewarding. Too often, leadership is talked about like some sort of divine calling where you clock out every day feeling satisfied with the transformational change you've bestowed upon your employees. Any lead who's been around more than a minute knows this isn't always the case. Whether it's leading people or making organizational decisions, it's not always easy being the lead.
We talk through the hard things to help leads level up, no matter what their challenges.
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Intentionality and Purpose: Keys to Effective Meetings
In this episode, we're diving into the world of meetings and asking some big questions. Ever wonder why some meetings leave you feeling energized and inspired while others drain you? Or maybe you're curious about how to make meetings more effective and productive?
We're chatting about the ups and downs of meetings, from the benefits to the drawbacks. Why is it so important to have a clear purpose and guidelines for meetings? And what happens when meetings become more of a hindrance than a help?
Join us as we explore the impact of non-critical meetings on productivity and discuss strategies for reducing unnecessary ones. Have you ever thought about implementing no-meeting days or carving out time for focused work? How could that change the game for you?
We're also talking about alternative forms of communication, like asynchronous methods. Ever tried sending video updates or voice messages instead of hopping on another Zoom call? Let's explore how these approaches can offer flexibility and convenience.
And of course, we'll touch on the importance of documentation after meetings. How can we ensure that important information doesn't get lost in the shuffle? Transcriptions and action items might just be the key.
So if you're ready to rethink the way we approach meetings and reclaim some of your time for deep work, this episode is for you. Tune in as we share insights, tips, and a few laughs along the way.
Takeaways
Meetings can be both beneficial and detrimental, depending on their purpose and execution.
Clear purpose and guidelines are essential for effective meetings.
Non-critical meetings can waste time and impact productivity.
Ad hoc conversations and quick huddles can be more efficient than recurring meetings.
Communication and engagement during meetings are crucial for their success.
Reducing unnecessary meetings and creating space for focused work can improve productivity.
Asynchronous communication, such as video updates or voice messages, can be an effective alternative to meetings.
Documentation after meetings, including transcriptions and action items, can help ensure important information is captured and shared effectively.
Article referenced: Shopify exec: This is what happened when we canceled all meetings -
Managers vs Leaders
Summary
In this episode, we explore the difference between being a leader and being a manager. Maybe you've felt unsure about being called a manager before. We understand – being seen as a leader sounds better, right? But can we really use these titles interchangeably? Let's find out.
We discuss the unique skills and qualities needed for each role. Leaders inspire and guide towards the future, while managers ensure things run smoothly. We also talk about when each role is most important – when to motivate and when to maintain stability.
We dive into the role of management in achieving reliable results and leadership in providing direction. We share stories of great leaders and discuss the downsides of overemphasizing leadership.
Ultimately, we agree that both leadership and management are crucial. Leadership moves us forward, while management keeps things steady. But success requires both. It's about knowing when to lead and when to manage.
Takeaways
The terms 'leader' and 'manager' are often used interchangeably, but they can have distinct meanings depending on the context and circumstances.
Management is important for producing reliable and efficient results, while leadership is about setting direction and inspiring others.
People may have a default inclination towards either leadership or management, but it's important to recognize the skills and qualities needed for each role.
Overemphasizing leadership without considering the need for management skills can lead to unintended consequences.
Understanding the distinction between leadership and management can help organizations make better decisions about assigning roles and responsibilities. Both leadership and management skills are important for success
Individuals should be open to learning and seeking feedback to develop these skills
Adaptability is key in recognizing when to be more of a leader or a manager
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage
01:24 Defining Leadership and Management
05:05 Perceptions of Leadership and Management
08:47 The Importance of Managerial Skills for Leaders
11:35 The Marvel of Management
20:43 The Role of Managers in Organizations
22:37 The Unintended Consequences of Overemphasizing Leadership
24:44 The Need for Different Skill Sets
32:34 Being a Great Manager without Micromanaging
35:40 The Root Causes of Micromanagement
36:54 Balancing Management and Micromanagement
40:04 The Negative Effects of Micromanagement
41:47 The Need for Hands-On Management
43:18 Recognizing the Need for Leadership or Management
48:09 Developing Leadership and Management Skills
49:00 Leadership vs. Management: Personal Reflections
58:14 Strategies for Developing Leadership and Management Skills -
Performance Management
In this episode, we're talking about performance management. We’ll unpack the importance of understanding each person's situation while still aiming for the company's goals. We'll discuss being open and flexible when people have problems but still expecting them to do well.
We'll also talk about using goals and measurements to track progress and why it's important to treat everyone fairly. We'll look at managing performance for individuals and teams, making sure goals are clear.
We'll touch on the value of celebrating when people do a good job and why it's important for leaders to talk to their team and give feedback. Work should be enjoyable as well as productive, and leaders can help make that happen.
Takeaways
Zooming in to understand individual circumstances and zooming out to consider organizational goals is a critical part of performance management
Effective communication and flexibility are key in accommodating employees' personal challenges while maintaining performance standards.
Metrics and goals provide benchmarks for performance management and help ensure consistency and fairness.
Leaders need to analyze the context and make decisions about accommodations based on the organization's resources and priorities. Performance management should be conducted at multiple levels, including individual, team, and organizational levels.
Clear goals and timelines are essential for effective performance management.
Recognizing and reflecting on progress and achievements is important for motivating and engaging employees.
Effective communication and dialogue between leaders and employees are crucial for performance management.
Leaders should provide feedback and set high expectations for their employees.
Creating a positive work environment where work is both productive and enjoyable is important for overall performance.
References
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
No Surprise Feedback
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Cheeky Banter
00:58 Topic Introduction: Performance Management
06:42 The Process vs. the Core Elements
09:34 The Challenges of Performance Management
11:05 Different Approaches for Different Performers
16:04 The Pitfalls of Performance Management
23:47 Zooming In and Zooming Out
28:39 The Importance of Clarity
30:53 The Role of Goals and Expectations
36:58 The Structure of Performance Management
38:43 Having Each Other's Backs
40:29 The Role of Conversations in Performance Management
46:02 The Power of Curiosity and Self-Awareness
49:49 Talking Less and Being Curious
54:46 The Structure and System of Performance Management
55:52 Reflecting Progress and Recognizing Achievements
57:26 No Surprise Feedback and Regular Check-ins
58:43 Recognizing and Reinforcing Good Behaviors
01:01:00 The Impact of Performance Management
01:05:51 The Balance Between Accountability and Engagement -
Recruiting doesn't have to suck (with special guest Luke Cassidy)
We've got our first guest! This episode we've got Luke Cassidy from Careers with Luke to talk about recruiting. Listen in for tons of info about how leaders at any stage can contribute to the recruiting process. There's also more than a few hilarious stories.
To learn more about Luke and connect with him check out Careers with Luke on LinkedIn and join his newsletter. -
Asking for Feedback
There's a lot of talk about giving or receiving feedback but what goes into soliciting feedback? T leads a discussion about asking for feedback and unpacks the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Let us know what you think!
1:35 - Woz and Marsh tell a story of a time they received harsh feedback
8:54: Broad vs. Specific ways to get feedback + the importance of reinforcing feedback
17:32: Preparing yourself knowing you may get tough feedback
32:38: Skip-level feedback (ie. getting feedback from multiple layers of leadership)
37:48 How important is good rapport to solicit skip-level feedback?
41:16 How do you hold your accountable to the feedback you’ve receive AND make it obvious that you took their feedback. -
Are you really managing your team?
Theresa leads a discussion unpacking what goes into leading teams, how you know that your team is effective, and how a team can find stability through empowerment.
Few things we touched on:
Donut economy: https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/
Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/topics-and-resources/teamwork-5-dysfunctions/
Homework: Check in with your team about their opinion of how effective the team is functioning. Anchor the judgement of effectiveness in a team metric for clarity.