I recently received the gift of hearing the words: “I don’t need you.” They came from a Leadology team member who felt not only capable - but excited - to fly solo with an important work call for the business. Now this didn’t happen overnight.

Here in the US we’re headed into Thanksgiving week, so what more appropriate topic to dive into today than gratitude?

Speaking of, we wanted to thank you for your curiosity, passion, and engagement with this newsletter each week. We truly appreciate all you’re doing to explore what it means to lay the foundation for a more positive, passionate workplace!

At this point in the pandemic, you’ve likely binged every television show on Netflix, completed that 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle (twice), and maybe even baked sourdough bread. That’s why this week, I wanted to share a few of my favorite leadership books to consider digging into while curled up by a cozy fire.

Today, I want to talk to you about being a great manager. Despite what you might have been told, this is about more than doing your job well. It’s about being human. It’s about helping those around you build the best life they can.

The conversation about obstacles female leaders face is nothing new. Social science has identified a likeability penalty: while male leaders are rewarded for being strong, assertive, and direct, women are judged on their likeability.

It’s no secret that WFH has blurred, even eliminated, boundaries between work and life.

While there’s awareness around the mental toll this is taking for us all, there’s also a contradiction happening for many employees.

How many times have you agreed to do something while the little voice inside of your head screams “I can’t believe I’m doing this”!?

There’s a common myth that compassion means doing it all, but according to Dr. Brené Brown, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

At an organizational level, humor is more than just funny concepts; it represents a management tool that can be used to reduce stress, enhance leadership, and build group cohesiveness and creativity.

If I’m doing my job right, by the end of this post you’ll not only understand the importance of difficult conversations, you’ll realize how they are actually central to progress.

Most recently, Canvas8 released the False Dawn Playbook. Inside their in-depth report, which summarizes five months of research and over 50 expert interviews, one uncomfortable reality stood out above the rest: The fact that despite patience wearing thin for COVID-19, the truth still remains that an effective vaccine is a long way away – likely 2021.

So what does this Oscar-winning Pixar film about a baby sandpiper overcoming her fear of water have to do with strengths and leadership?

We’re big believers that a growth mindset is essential for being a courageous leader, whether that’s at home or in the workplace. This week, I’m excited to share some more insights on this topic and a fun growth mindset activity for you to consider.

Weekly one-on-one meetings: productive or a waste of time?
It’s a great question.
And here’s my answer.

Stop what you’re doing and imagine being able to take work off your plate. You hand it off to your direct report...and they are thankful.