This Week in Leadership
The Friday Five - Issue 32
Challenging leaders to maximize their potential
Terry Wetzel ~ Summit Leadership Development
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Spotted Cow(s)
If you live in Wisconsin, odds are you have heard of (or enjoyed) Spotted Cow beer from New Glarus Brewing. They are consistently ranked in the top 15 craft breweries in the country by volume, despite selling in only one state. The leadership lesson? Scale is not always the same thing as success. Great leaders know that trying to be everything to everyone everywhere dilutes your impact. Cheers. The story of Spotted Cow.
Measuring and Managing
Most of us have heard the phrase, “if you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.” This popular saying can be true at times, but it oversimplifies reality. Effective management requires both measurable data and qualitative judgment. Numbers tell you what is happening but often do not tell you why. If you manage strictly by the spreadsheet, you optimize for what is easily counted but risk ignoring morale, culture, and trust.
Simple Reminders
If you have not changed your password(s) in a while, do so today.
Clean up and organize your digital files and folders.
Declutter your physical workspace.
Organize, automate, and simplify your email inbox.
Block some time next week for reflection and long-term planning.
The Delayed Goodbye
That feeling that a team member simply isn’t the right fit paired with the mental gymnastics we use to delay the inevitable is exhausting. We tell ourselves they just need one more chance, or that the hiring market is too tough, but deep down, we know the truth. Hanging on to an employee you know you need to terminate is an energy drain. Sometimes the kindest, most professional move you can make for everyone involved is to stop delaying the goodbye and finally let go.
Looking Out the Window
A job I had a few years ago was in an absolutely beautiful building. It had lots of natural light, a modern and functional interior, and a very positive “vibe” overall. Across the street was a small funeral home. Glancing at this always allowed me to keep a realistic and positive mindset, especially on days that seemingly were not going so well. It is all perspective, right?
Quote of the Week
“The measure of a leader today is not how confidently they answer.
It is how steadily they lead while the answers are still forming.”
Marut Bhardwaj
Book of the Week
The War of Art is a very short book that will, as it says on the cover, give you a kick in the a$$. If you are a procrastinator, are prone to starting but not finishing big projects, have dreams and aspirations you keep kicking to the bottom of your list, this is for you.
That’s it for this week
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The photo in today’s web edition was taken on the Union Terrace in Madison WI.
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