Insights

Things I've noticed

Observations on transformation, execution and leadership communication. Written from inside the work, not from above it.

An engineer at a trade show booth being filmed on a phone mounted on a gimbal, a clip mic on his shirt, with the show floor and other stands behind them.
· 6 min read

Your best influencers are already standing in your booth

Nobody believes a company saying its product is exciting. Everybody believes a person who cannot stop talking about the thing they built.

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Everyday supply drawer with Post-it notes, pens, tape and other stationery.
· 4 min read

Sometimes transformation starts in the supply closet

Big transformations take time. Sometimes people need to see that change is possible before the big change is finished.

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Barbara Zelenay in discussion with colleagues during a leadership workshop, illustrating constructive feedback, disagreement and trust at work
· 5 min read

We give AI better feedback than we give our colleagues

Maybe one of the more useful things AI can teach us about working with humans has nothing to do with AI. It's about feedback.

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Laptop, phone, AirPods and espresso on an outdoor terrace
· 5 min read

Don't make people read 140 notifications to find out what matters

A simple approach to leadership communication after summer vacation: filter the noise, tell people what changed and give them three priorities for what comes next.

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