Breaking the Results Trap: Why Values and Culture Matter More Than You Think
Pursuing results without regard for values is a race to the bottom that many organizations don't realize they're running—until it's too late. In today's fast-paced business world, the emphasis on immediate results often overshadows the foundational elements of culture and values within organizations. This focus can inadvertently send a message to team members that results are paramount, irrespective of the means to achieve them. However, this approach not only undermines the essence of an organization's culture but also fosters an environment where bending rules and taking shortcuts become the norm to achieve desired outcomes. It's a predicament that many organizations face, yet it remains a challenging issue for leaders and managers to address. The dilemma arises when an individual's performance, measured solely by results, does not align with the organization's core values and culture. As leaders, the responsibility falls on us to navigate these complex situations—acknowledging the...
Leading with Empathy in a World of Logic
In a world where logic and precision drive success, it's easy to overlook the profound impact of empathy in leadership. Today, I want to share a compelling story highlighting this often-undervalued skill, particularly in the tech and engineering sectors. Meet Daniela, a lead engineer renowned for her logical and analytical prowess. Her team respected her technical skills but felt a disconnect that transcended project completion. This disconnect led to a high turnover rate, indicating a deeper issue within the team's dynamics. Despite consistent project success, Daniela noticed missed opportunities for creativity and a lack of proactive engagement from her team. An annual survey unveiled the root cause: a yearning for appreciation and a more supportive leadership style. This revelation was a turning point for Daniela, leading her to a leadership seminar focused on the transformative power of empathy in technical fields. Daniela's journey to integrate empathy into her leadership style...
Navigating Decision-Making: A Guide for Tech Leaders
In my journey as a leadership consultant, I've had the privilege of working with some of the most innovative minds in the tech and engineering sectors. These experiences have not only enriched my understanding but also shaped my perspective on what truly drives effective decision-making within this dynamic landscape. 1.Clarity of Purpose & Vision It all begins with a clear sense of purpose. Imagine setting sail without a compass; that's decision-making without purpose. During a workshop, I once asked a room full of leaders, "What's your compass?" The room fell silent. That moment of introspection was pivotal. Your purpose and vision are not just corporate jargon; they're your compass in the sea of choices. Every decision should bring you closer to your vision, not drift you away. When faced with options, ask yourself, does this align with my core purpose? If it's a distraction, it's easier to say no. 2. Data-Driven Decision-Making When It Matters I recall a conversation with a...
3 Key Strategies to Win Over Skeptics: How to Get Buy-in for New Ideas
In a bustling tech hub in the Nordics, there's a tale that hits home for many leaders and managers. It's about Elena, a project leader who's big on bringing new tech to her company's manufacturing. She's got her eyes set on an AI project that she believes can make things way more efficient and save a bunch of resources. But there's a challenge: the higher-ups in her company are pretty cautious about spending on new tech. Elena gave it her all in her presentations, loaded with data and potential benefits. But the big shots had their reservations. They were worried about how this new tech could mess up the current workflow, the hefty investment it called for, and the hassle of getting everyone up to speed with it. So, Elena switched gears. She started having casual coffee catch-ups with these folks to really get where they were coming from. Turns out, they're not against new ideas; they just need to see how it's a safe bet that won't throw a wrench in the works. Armed with this fresh...
Can’t Keep up? 4 Ways to Take Charge of Your Time
In my journey as a consultant, working closely with leaders in tech and engineering, a profound realization dawned upon me, one that reshaped my understanding of productivity and efficiency. This epiphany wasn't born out of thin air but was influenced by the teachings of John Maxwell, a luminary in leadership wisdom. It was John who illuminated the misconception of 'time management' for me, leading me to a pivotal mindset shift: the transition from managing time to managing priorities. Time, as we perceive it, is an unyielding constant. We each have the same 24 hours at our disposal, no more, no less. The revelation, however, lies in understanding that while we cannot stretch time, we can optimize how we engage with it. This shift from 'time management' to 'activity and priority management' is not just semantic; it's foundational for leaders, especially in the high-stakes realms of tech and engineering. In the Nordics, where innovation and efficiency drive the tech and engineering...
How to Unite Your Team with a Shift in Perspective: Lessons from the Beach Ball Incident
Imagine standing in a room, your team fiercely debating around a beach ball placed at its center. Everyone is adamant about the color they see, yet they're all looking at the same ball. This unexpected scenario led to a pivotal leadership revelation during my time at Volvo Cars, transforming how we approached problem-solving and team collaboration. Join me as I share how a simple shift in perspective not only resolved a contentious technical debate but also united my team in a way I never anticipated. In my journey through the world of leadership, particularly within the dynamic and ever-evolving sectors of tech and engineering in the Nordics, I've encountered a transformative insight that profoundly reshaped my approach to conflict resolution and team collaboration. This revelation didn't come from textbooks or MBA lectures but from the intricate dance of leading diverse and brilliant minds striving to innovate in unison. The Revelation in an Unlikely Scenario During a particularly...
Do you make this mistake when building your team?
Here is a truth that transformed my approach and can reshape yours. As a solopreneur and consultant specializing in the tech and engineering sectors of the Nordics, I've seen the inner workings of recruitment from both sides of the table. I've been in the shoes of a team leader, and I've guided clients through the labyrinth of building winning teams. And today I am going to share some of the things I learned. But first, let's talk football—no, not the one with quarterbacks, but the one with goalkeepers. Imagine fielding a team with 11 keepers. Sounds ludicrous, right? Yet, this is precisely the scenario I encountered in my early leadership days, and it's a trap I see many fall into—not on the pitch, but in the office. In our pursuit of talent, we often gravitate towards clones of ourselves—a phenomenon John Maxwell aptly dubs "The Law of Magnetism." We don't attract what we want; we attract who we are. My 'aha' moment came when my team, filled with brilliant minds just like mine,...
A Personal Leadership Insight
True leadership is way beyond technical abilities; it's an art hinging on the mastery of human interaction nuances. In my leadership journey, which began in the engineering industry, I initially adopted a simple, system-related communication style. I believed people preferred and responded to clear, concise instructions, similar to machines or systems. However, this approach ignored the nuanced and individualistic nature of human behavior, leading to a significant revelation. Initially, I overlooked the intricacies of human interactions and communication sensitivity, learning a hard lesson about the importance of understanding and controlling emotions. This realization sparked my interest in human mind functions and emotion processing, leading to the observation that soft skills and emotional intelligence (EQ) form the foundation of leadership. This is particularly evident when technically gifted individuals rise to top organizational roles without the necessary soft skills and EQ,...
Leadership Lessons from Tenerife: Cultivating Growth and Emotional Intelligence (special gift inside)
Recently, during a trip to Tenerife, I experienced a moment of profound clarity that beautifully parallels our journey in leadership and personal growth. As I strolled through the exquisitely maintained gardens of my 5-star hotel, I was struck by the stark contrast between the carefully cultivated landscape within the hotel premises and the wild, untended fields just beyond its boundaries. The hotel gardens were a marvel of attention and care - each plant thriving under the meticulous watch of the gardeners. Vibrant flowers bloomed in abundance, and every shrub was pruned to perfection, creating an oasis of harmony and beauty. This was a place where every detail was consciously nurtured, where growth was guided and celebrated. Just a few steps away, outside the hotel’s confines, lay the wild fields. They were untamed, filled with a chaotic mix of overgrown weeds and cacti plans. These fields, though possessed of the same potential for beauty, lacked the gardener’s guiding hand. They...
Are You Missing This Key Ingredient in Your Leadership Strategy?
Let me present you with three scenarios… (pay attention – there will be a quiz at the end!) 1. As she leaves her house, Alice notices her car keys are missing from the key rack. She rummages through her pockets and her satchel until she asks, “When did I last have them in my hands?” She remembers placing them on the kitchen counter the night before – and there they are. 2. Barry pulls a freshly-washed shirt from his closet. As he puts it over his head, he notices a strange, strong, chemical scent. “Ugh,” he thinks, “it must be my new laundry detergent. I’ll have to see if they sell it unscented.” 3. Christina’s daily chores are interrupted by a bout of food poisoning. As she lays down in bed, she thinks on what she’s eaten throughout the day – toast, salad, leftover chicken… “Chicken, it must be,” she thinks to herself, and throws it out so that no one else in her family gets sick. Question:What do these three scenes have in common? Answer: All of them, when presented with a problem,...
Step into 2024 with Clarity: A Comprehensive Guide to Reflecting on Your Year and Planning Ahead 🗓️
Here we are again, nearing the end of another year circling the sun, and the beginning of a brand new one just over the horizon. For some, New Year’s Day is no different from any other day. American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is famous for many things – among them, his insistence that the coming of the new year holds no astronomical significance. And while that may be true, the new year has the potential to hold tremendous value for leaders and growth-minded individuals around the world. Sure, we will wake up the same people January 1 as we were when we went to bed on December 31. But we have in front of us an opportunity to take a pause before we move forward – and there is power in that pause. Imagine you’re climbing a mountain. As you journey, you travel up the face of the mountain, taking in more of the sprawling landscape surrounding you. But each step is taxing. The higher you go, the more you must give in order to get there. After so long, you need to pause. Take stock...
The Leadership Mistake I Made Early On – And What It Taught Me
As I type this post, I'm at the helm of my own venture, Become Your Best Version – a name perhaps familiar to you. 🙂 The entrepreneurial path has reinforced my belief: the essence of leadership starts with leading oneself. And character is the foundation self-leadership stands on. This realization, however, didn't dawn on me overnight. My leadership discovery commenced much before I ventured into consulting. My first leadership role had me steering a software development team in the automotive sector. Transitioning from a peer to a leader within the same team, I found myself in a crucible of growth and learning. I had to learn to see a leader’s role very differently from how I had before becoming one myself. As that team’s leader, much of my time was spent behind my desk. Occasionally I would enter the workshop to discuss progress. Meanwhile, my team’s time was divided evenly between their own desks and the workshop. The workshop, as I am sure you can imagine, was a lively place -...
Healthy Conflict at Work: A Leadership Perspective
Florin LunguWhen John came to me, he was quite distressed. For some time, he had felt that something was compromising his team. Undermining their progress. Capping their ability to innovate. He had one very clear concern – an age-old concern that many CEOs are dealing with today. In John’s case, his concern went by the names Sarah and Mike. Now, Sarah and Mike themselves were not the problem. John had an excellent team. Sarah diligently tracked task progress as project manager, and Mike took his role as product owner very seriously. And they were both pleasant people. But John said whenever they discussed how to approach their projects, they would go at odds with each other. They would have intense debates over what to do. John was worried the negative energy was hurting morale. Engagement, innovation, results – everything was suffering, and John felt Sarah and Mike’s conflicts could be part of the cause. And not without reason – certainly, their discussions made John himself...
Is work-life balance overrated?
Every month, between 10,000 and 100,000 people are searching Google for tips on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It is a demand that the Internet is happy to meet: if you Google the phrase “work-life balance,” you’ll find yourself presented with almost 3.5 billion results. (Yes, that’s billion… with a “B.”) And yet, in the midst of all this discourse, the corporate world still has a hard time establishing those healthy boundaries. Long have we struggled to walk this line, but the pandemic did us no favors. The transition to remote work even further muddied the waters as to where work ended and life began. Understaffing, increased pressure, and uncertainty have been a recipe for increased hours and burned out team members. The difficulty, I think, lies in the fact that the problem is so personal, and the solution – “work-life balance,” as we call it – is so strict. In an interview with Thrive Global, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has called the term “debilitating… because [it]...
Breaking Down Leadership: What It Really Takes to Lead
Florin LunguWhat is leadership? It's a word we throw around a lot, isn't it? From boardrooms to book clubs, it seems like everyone has something to say about what makes a great leader. But when we really get down to it, what does leadership actually mean? Think about John C. Maxwell. This man has been digging into what makes leaders tick for over 40 years, and he's pretty much nailed it: "Leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less." It's a simple idea, but it packs a punch. Leadership isn't about who sits in the big chair; it's about how you can make a difference, big or small. So, let's dive into what shapes a leader, shall we? Attitude is Your Secret Weapon You know how people say, "Attitude is everything"? Well, they're onto something. It's not the whole story, but boy, does it change the game. Imagine two folks facing the same problem. One sees a brick wall; the other sees a challenge to climb over. Who do you think will rally the troops and get things moving? Exactly....
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