Constructive Friction for Leaders

The illusion of agreement produces disappointing action.

Fitting-in congeals complacency. Conformity doesn’t keep the peace; it puts people to sleep.

Constructive friction is a spark.

Jerk-holes rage against a dissatisfying world. It looks like courage, but it’s bluster.

Habitual discontent is an anchor. Constructive friction is a sail.

Two ways to practice constructive friction.

Don’t Coach the Dead

Everyone has potential. But you don’t run a rescue mission. Forget about coaching the incompetent. Train them.

The more capable the person, the more valuable development.

Elite performers in every sector have coaches.

Coaching won’t compensate for lack of aspiration or talent.

How to spot the coachable?

Create Your Best Meeting Ever 

“Meetings have become weapons of mass dysfunction.” Rebecca Hinds, PhD 

Attendance is not engagement. 

Silence about bad meetings is permission for more.

Move status updates out of meetings. 

Become a meeting minimalist.

Eliminate meetings that exist only to compensate for broken information flow. 

The purpose of team meetings is to achieve something you can’t do alone.

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Trailblazer Courage

The courage to go first inspires those who follow.

The Wright brothers proved that powered flight was possible (1903). Later, Chuck Yeager became the 1st person to fly faster than the speed of sound (1947). Eventually, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon first (1969).

Here are 5 ways a leader inspires others by courageously going first.

Potential: A Broken Promise

Potential is an unfulfilled promise.

The #1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft was Anthony Bennett. You probably haven’t heard of him. He played four games before scoring a point. He fizzled after playing with four teams in four seasons.

How to spot real potential?

Turn potential into results.

12 Expressions of Self-Imposed Stress

Self-imposed Stress:

#1. Trying to control life and people.
#2. Overestimating your capacity to get things done.
#3. Procrastination.
#4. Saying yes too much.

What self-imposed stress to you see in leadership?

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