This is why measurement and transparency are key components of any effective management operating system. If everyone has access to the same information and that information is shared consistently through time, then the gap, dare I say gulf, that can exist between the information that makes its way up to the C-suite and the reality of operations at ground level can be closed. 

In my experience, run rate and momentum are the most important things that determine a business’s performance early in the new year. You can have glorious PowerPoint presentations that illustrate a bright, shiny New Year, but if there’s no momentum and your teams haven’t already upskilled and allocated significant resources to the plan, then you’re almost certainly going to face disappointment in Q1.

What we know about resolutions, is that most of them fail. Why do they fail? Because they’re typically not integrated into a broader long-term personal plan. Loads of energy and attention get poured into resolutions early in the year. Then time passes, entropy sets in, the inertia of the previous status quo sets in, and the hopes and dreams of New Year’s Eve are eventually dashed—leading to disappointment and regret.

As a global society, let’s use the Holiday Season to reflect on how we approach interactions with our fellow cosmic travelers. When alignment is a challenge and viewpoints don’t seamlessly calibrate, seek first to understand—not immediately jump to tearing others down who don’t share our opinions or worldview.

If more of us seek to understand, we will continue to make progress toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive future state.

To be “bankable” requires an understanding of how the business functions, what your role is in the value streams that you influence, and how the value you help create generates revenue and operating income.

Ever hear someone say “Trust me,” or “To Be Honest With You…?” These are phrases that some of us say out of habit and I believe we should actively work to jettison them from our vocabulary. 

When I hear someone repeat one of these phrases, the first thing that comes to mind is: “so are you lying to me the rest of the time?” My ability to trust individuals who overuse these phrases is challenged, and in a workplace where balancing trust with accountability is paramount, we don’t need to be injecting language into conversations that immediately makes us question the veracity of what our colleagues say.

Moreover, what does hardcore even mean? To some, that might be five 10 hour days a week. To others, it might literally mean working around the clock and catching a few zzz’s—leaving a pool of drool on the break room couch! This lack of clarity, coupled with mass terminations and ultimatums will create an environment of suspicion, insecurity, and self-doubt. Trust and accountability have no way to take root in an organizational culture like this. Active disengagement, obfuscation, mistrust, and a$$ kissing are the most likely results.

This coming Tuesday is “Giving Tuesday,” where charitable organizations around the world make appeals for year-end contributions. My ask of you today is to include your local United Way in your philanthropic plans as we close out 2022.

Without purposeful care and attention, teams splinter into silos that promote internal competition and prevent the information sharing that’s necessary to encourage collaboration. Silos and affinity groups will always exist within your business—especially as it scales and grows. However, it’s essential to create an environment where silos fulfill their purpose of necessary specialization but don’t become fiefdoms ruled by minor nobles who promote idiosyncratic ways of working and unproductive subcultures.

When it comes to any topic that has the potential to become emotionally charged, email is the worst. Why? Because email is a one-way communication tool. It feels great to pour yourself into a well-crafted email, filled with (self)righteous bullet points to support your position. But in reality, this kind of message is a ticking time bomb that’s just waiting to go off.

In business and in our personal lives, honing the skill of both giving and receiving constructive feedback is essential to building trust and driving long-term results. Most of us philosophically recognize the importance of this skill, but struggle with its implementation in real life. In today’s video muse, I provide three tips for engaging in constructive feedback.

We can rise above, we can make a difference, but only if we move forward together. I believe in the promise of democracy and the power of the diversity of the human race. Let’s do this. Let’s uphold our civic duty to be educated citizens and vote.