Hot Topic Friday: Sept. 6

Friday Newsletter Personal leadership

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Happy Friday! Here are my Sept. 6 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Learning From Our Younger Self, ‘Put That Sucker on Spin.’

Source: Big Think.

What It’s About: A new study on what is often the subject of great dinner conversations among compatriots is out for consideration. The research engaged several hundred volunteers on the topic, all of whom were over the age of 30. Much like other studies, people addressed the following subjects. Money (save more money, younger me)! Relationships (don’t marry that money grabber! Find a nice person to settle down with). Education (finish school. Don’t study business because people tell you to, you’ll hate it). A sense of self (do what you want to do. Never mind what others think). Life goals (never give up. Set goals. Travel more). However a few more interesting and deeper nuggets emerged including: “Money is a social trap.” “What you do twice becomes a habit; be careful of what habits you form.” “Never base any decisions on fear.” 

Why It’s Important: The researchers write: “The results of the current studies suggest that, rather than just writing to Dear Abby, we should consult ourselves for advice we would offer to our younger selves. The data indicates that there is much to be learned that can facilitate well-being and bring us more in line with the person that we would like to be should we follow that advice.” We benefit greatly when we simply allow ourselves to THINK and SELF REFLECT. If not, years goes by and we’re still at “could have” or “should have.” The sad outcome I’m hearing in many boomers today is too much regret not for what they did, but for what they didn’t do. This includes and is certainly not limited to only doing work you enjoy doing in places that you appreciate being a part of. Share this nudge with someone you love (remembering yourself first). Help them know it will, as country singer Miranda Lambert wonderfully states in her new song, “It all comes out in the wash. Put that sucker on spin.”  

Hot Topic 2: Let’s All be Joyologists. 

Source: Elemental

What It’s About: Norman Cousins became famous for inspiring the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” Cousins was chronically ill, and claimed that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect that would give him at least two hours of pain-free sleep. His article in a 1976 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine raised many eyebrows in the scientific community. Since then, there have been many more studies on the subject and research has linked laughter to many positive outcomes, including stronger immune systems, improved depression symptoms, and reduced pain in people with cancer. Researchers speculate that laughter works in part by relaxing muscles, enhancing circulation, and releasing endorphins in the brain. Laughter also helps people build relationships. People often state they value a sense of humor most in friends and partners. 

Why It’s Important: I have not been explicit in highlighting the importance of laughter in an organization’s culture. However, I’m seriously thinking about being more intentional. Too often I wander the floors of workplaces and I hear nothing, just “plugged in” folks clicking away on their devices. Then they get up and go somewhere so they can get screen time on their personal mobile devices. I do know that texting is filled with humor among friends. However, hearing people laughing together says so much about an organization’s culture. What if at minimum, every meeting included easy, sincere laughter from a story or good natured kidding? How great would that be? Perhaps we’d become practiced Joylogists? We should hear laughter all the time in the workplace. 

Y’all good? 

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Tightrope):

[This is our family’s wine! The Rubis estate Pinot Noir will be ready for shipping by Christmas, 2019.  Feel free to try it out here.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“Building a new sort of empathy takes effort and sacrifice, for people who might not repay it… We each have a choice, and the sum of our choices will create the future. What are you going to do?”Jamil Zaki

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.  

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.

Hot Topic Friday: August 30

Friday Newsletter Personal leadership

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Happy Friday! Here are my August 30 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: A Loss of Luck.  

Source: Forbes

What It’s About: This article discusses the unexpected early retirement of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, and examines the question of why and when people quit their jobs. Luck’s decision sparked a flurry of criticism as many fans accused him of being a “quitter” or “loser.” They felt he disappointed them, or somehow didn’t live up to an implied promise that he would bring the Super Bowl to Indy. 

What It’s Important: It is important for all of us to have the courage to do what is best for ourselves first. The following is from Frank Reich, the Colts’ Head Coach: “Someone asked me a question the other day, ‘is there any sense that you felt like Andrew is letting down the team?’ And the answer was an emphatic no. When Andrew spoke to us the other day, he spoke of how the cycle of injury and pain and rehab, injury, pain, rehab, injury, pain, rehab, over four years had taken its toll. It had essentially sucked the passion, the joy, the fun out of football. So, Andrew did the right thing. He did the right thing for himself, and he did the right thing for the team. He did the courageous thing, and he did the honorable thing.” Sometimes the right thing to do is to QUIT. When you are miserable and the joy is completely sucked out of you in your work, and you can’t or will not be able to change the situation, do the right thing for yourself (and your team). QUIT! You’re worth it. 

Hot Topic 2: Get Uncomfortable When Learning

Source: Harvard Business Review, Peter Bregman

What It’s About: Peter Bregman is the CEO of Bregman Partners, a company that helps successful people become better leaders. In this article he emphasizes that great leaders are also great learners, and that part of that is being more than ok with discomfort. Consummate learners actually seek it out. 

Why It’s Important: Most of us want to be excellent, life long learners. Yet we have different confidence levels and are unique in our ability to deal with discomfort. Bregman suggests, “First, know that it’s brave to be a beginner. Understand that it takes courage and vulnerability to expose your weaknesses and try new things. Then look for learning situations where the stakes are low.” This is practical and great advice. Courage, vulnerability and associated feelings involve personal risks. Who wants to be embarrassed? Feel silly? Yet being a naive learner involves putting oneself out there and requires practice. When we seek out lower risk situations, and realize that the worst case scenario is personally very manageable, we become more comfortable to keep raising our hand. Get uncomfortable. It’s good for us. 

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Vivino):

Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills 2015. 

[Picture and ratings provided by Vivino.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“Be challenged instead of complacent.”Dan Schawbel

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.  

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.

Hot Topic Friday: August 23

Friday Newsletter Personal leadership

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Happy Friday! Here are my August 23 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Hey Shareholders! You Are No Longer Everything. 

Source: The New York Times

What It’s About: Nearly 200 chief executives, including the leaders of Apple, American Airlines, Accenture, AT&T, Bank of America, Boeing, BlackRock and others representing some of America’s largest companies, issued a statement that redefines the purpose of a corporation. This NYT article claims, “No longer should the primary job of a corporation be to advance the interests of shareholders.” The group known as the Business Roundtable, declared companies must also invest in employees, deliver value to customers and deal fairly and ethically with suppliers.

Why It’s Important: Holy cow. What took these folks so long to arrive at this conclusion? DUH! Those of us committed to building great cultures and the importance of caring for all stakeholders have always known this to be true. However, better late than never as the saying goes. Now CEOS, let’s start doing stuff to show you mean it. (I wonder if Wells Fargo, Audi, Disney and other members of recent reported scandals signed it)? 

Hot Topic 2: Employee Happiness and Business Success. 

Source: The Economist

(Preface: I’m almost embarrassed for The Economist publishing this now. I had to double check that it wasn’t August 1960 versus August 2019. Seriously). 

What It’s About: A study by Gallup, covering nearly 1.9 million employees across 230 separate organizations in 73 countries found that employee satisfaction had a substantial positive correlation with customer loyalty, and a negative link with staff turnover. Furthermore, worker satisfaction was met with higher productivity and profitability. The research also showed that improvements in employee morale precede gains in productivity, rather than vice versa. 

Why It’s Important: My first dumbfounded reaction is, “No S%#t.” You mean Gallup has to gather data from almost 2 million workers to come to that conclusion? Our followers could have confirmed the same outcomes for no cost. Why do so-called leaders, executives and shareholders still need convincing? It’s like somehow The Business Roundtable referenced in Hot Topic 1, and the esteemed Economist had an epiphany within the same week. So here we are, approaching 2020, and maybe we’ve finally turned the philosophical corner on investing in PEOPLE and CULTURE for greater, sustainable results… Well at least while business is good and shareholders are happy. Thank goodness bots and machines are easier to manage. Oops, sceptical not cynical. 

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Vivino):

Flight & Feathers No. 37 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley 2017. 

[Picture and ratings provided by Vivino.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories.” Kate Atkinson

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.  

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.

Hot Topic Friday: August 16

Friday Newsletter Personal leadership

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Happy Friday! Here are my August 16 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Why Do We Worry Then Worry Some More?  

Source: The New York Times.  

What It’s About: UCLA Clinical psychiatrist and author, Jennifer Taitz, writes about the negative impact of waiting for the “other shoe to drop,” and how this way of thinking robs us of fully appreciating moments of joy. We somehow believe that thinking of the next potential bad thing better prepares us for the worst. This is a false narrative. The article outlines why this happens and what we might do about it. 

Why It’s Important: We need to recognize, welcome and embrace moments of joy. When we start worrying about what bad things could possibly happen before we fully soak in moments to relish, the less capacity we have for resilience. Two important worry antidotes to keep in mind include: 1. Cherishing our values more than counting “results” and comparing ourselves to others 2. Imagining life without this anxiety and visualizing living in this more desirable state. This is easier said than done, yet worth practicing. 

Hot Topic 2: 27 Years of Research Finds One Key Thing for Long and Happy Life

Source: Inc. 

Why It’s About: A study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a team of University of Michigan researchers. The team analyzed data from the 27-year-old Health and Retirement Study and found that one thing led to people living longer. According to the article: “That one thing is inescapably interwoven with happiness, fulfillment, and maximum productivity at work: Working and living with a sense of purpose and meaning. The researchers found that those who had meaning and a sense of purpose (as measured by answers to questions from well-being self-assessments) lived longer lives than those who’d self-reported little to no sense of purpose and meaning.”

Why It’s Important: Both individuals and organizations require a sense of deep purpose to thrive. Yet too often, neither fully invests in the work required to establish purpose and meaning as an intentional driving force. Why is that? We consistently let activity and transaction lead us without really asking the hard questions as to WHY? Being self-aware and reflective is difficult, yet as the research confirms, it is so valuable. What about you? 

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Vivino):

Rainwater Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2017. 

[Picture and ratings provided by Vivino.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“Our ability to truly tap into our creative imagination so that we can do the things that we most want to do, or experiment with different parts of our self, is truly unique to us – and an alter ego helps to untap that.” – Todd Herman 

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My Lead In podcasts

My latest blogs. (Blogs returning Tuesday, August 20). 

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.

Hot Topic Friday: August 9

Abundance Accountability Friday Newsletter Personal leadership Respect

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Happy Friday! Here are my August 9 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Hunting for Easter Eggs All Year. 

Source: The New York Times. 

What It’s About: Do you know what an “Easter egg” is in the tech world? It is an undocumented feature in a production, set in motion by a sequence of commands that nobody would hit accidentally. Software engineers over the years have occasionally built in surprises for the user, who have to hunt for them. David Pogue’s article in the NYT gives an interesting outline of this phenomena. Using Tesla as an example, Easter eggs include but are not limited to: “Romance Mode (the screen in the car displays a crackling fireplace as a mood-setting pop song begins to play), Santa Mode (your car’s icon on the screen becomes a sleigh, snowflakes fall, and the turn signal produces the sound of jingle bells); and what Tesla engineers call Emissions Testing Mode (you, the driver, can trigger the sound of flatulence emerging from any of the car’s seats).” Apparently Tesla engineers have made Easter eggs easier to find, yet their cars still contain Easter eggs that nobody has yet discovered. Kinda cool. 

Why It’s Important:  We could all benefit from using our creativity for more intentional fun. What if we explored applying the Easter egg idea in the work we do (not just software development) so that we might surprise people who use our services in a delightful way? I’m not sure how yet, but I’m planning to do that. We’re building a new lornerubis.com website….Hmm. 

Hot Topic 2: Big Learning from 10,000 Leaders.

Source: Inc. 

What It’s About: This Inc. article refers to lessons learned from conducting coaching sessions with more than 10,000 organizational leaders across 300 companies in 75 different countries. The reflective analysis noticed three qualities the most effective leaders have in common:

They have a willingness to improve their leadership skills.

They play a game worth playing in life.

They have a desire to elevate those around them.. 

This totally connects with my observation about effective leaders. 

Why It’s Important: While there is an overwhelming amount of leadership content in the universe, these common traits are worth reflecting on and are accessible to ALL of us. Great leaders are never ever “done.” They are constantly pursuing greater self awareness and are intentional learning machines. I find that they think BIG and play BIG. Most importantly, advancing as leaders in life and work become one in the same mission. And the very best always develop and elevate others in the most generous way. They literally never waste time putting down others. They do eliminate or avoid toxicity and always look to bring people forward. This is a simple article and there is something important we can really learn from it.   

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Vivino):

Badge Proprietary Red Santa Barbara 2016

[Picture and ratings provided by Vivino.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“A meal becomes good by starting with quality instructions. It becomes great when you add a quality chef.”Erica Ariel Fox

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My Lead In podcasts

My latest blogs

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.

Hot Topic Friday: August 2

Abundance Accountability Friday Newsletter Personal leadership Respect

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Happy Friday! Here are my August 2 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: Leadership Trust Falls.

Source: Harvard Business Review

What It’s About: This article underlines the importance of all stakeholders’ trusting leadership. Leaders who violate that trust usually end up getting fired: A recent PwC analysis shows that in 2018, more CEOs were fired for ethical lapses than poor financial performance. The authors note that stakeholders evaluate leadership trustworthiness on the following dimensions — competence, motives, means, impact and earned legitimacy. Those who believe leaders haven’t come to power properly will be less likely to follow their direction.

Why It’s Important: When the trust scores of leadership are low, research confirms that organizations underperform. Of course, competence and judgment in decision making is critical. And it’s imperative that people see the action of leadership aimed towards the greater good rather than feeding selfish interests. The means to results must have integrity, and leadership has to be seen as driving positive impact. Legitimacy underscores well earned experience, especially when it comes to navigating the future. Contrary to popular myth, people are not as resistant to change as they are distrustful of leaders being able to maneuver through it. Consider leadership trust as one very important measurement in your organization’s success. 

Hot Topic 2: Transparent Insights from Old Navy’s New CEO

Source: Fast Company

What It’s About: This simple but insightful article gives us a glimpse into the human side of Old Navy CEO Nancy Green. She answers questions like, “What do you do when you have a free five minutes?” “What products have you recently you splurged on?” “What’s your necessary vice?” And much more. 

Why It’s Important: People like to see the personal side of a leader. There is a craving for authenticity and humanness from top executives. It is this vulnerability that contributes to the trustworthiness noted in the article above. In this case, I particularly liked the books Green recommends. I read a lot of books, and I’ve only read one on her Top Five list. I’m committed and inspired to read the other four: 

Winning from Within by Erica Ariel Fox. 

Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight

Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity and the Power of Change, by Beth Comstock.

The Mind of the Leader: How to Lead Yourself, Your People, and Your Organization for Extraordinary Results, by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter

Becoming by Michelle Obama.

My Weekly Wine Recommendation (Thanks to Vivino):

Jury Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2017

[Picture and ratings provided by Vivino.]

And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

“My number one goal as a thriller writer is to entertain you. But I’ve got a chance to not only entertain people, but have them close my book and be smarter having read it.”Brad Thor. 

Bye for now!

– Lorne Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

Monday’s Lead In podcast.

Tuesday’s blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast

Also don’t forget to subscribe to our site, and follow Lorne Rubis on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter for the latest from our podcasts, blogs, and all things offered on LorneRubis.com.