The Leading Sapiens Weekly

The Leading Sapiens Weekly explores leadership development through diverse lenses such as psychology, philosophy, practical action, and introspection. It emphasizes adaptability, understanding implicit biases, leveraging unique leadership styles, and embracing creativity and metacognition for professional growth and effective decision-making in dynamic organizational environments.

Leadership Development Psychology and Philosophy Career Success Strategies Organizational Dynamics Decision Making and Problem Solving Innovation and Creativity Professional Growth and Learning Workplace Politics and Ethics

The hottest Substack posts of The Leading Sapiens Weekly

And their main takeaways

The Long Game | LSW#47

29 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🚌 Education Learning Strategies Systems Thinking Professional development
  1. Thinking long-term is a challenge because we're not naturally wired for it. Compounding gains show significant results on a long timeline, requiring consistency and patience.
  2. Maintaining consistency of effort involves focusing on simple patterns, understanding the mundane, and adopting an input-focused mindset.
  3. Systems thinking helps uncover the underlying structures that drive actions, emphasizing the importance of proactive, future-oriented actions over reactive firefighting.

Vocabulary, granularity, & terministic screens | LSW#46

29 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🚌 Education Language Neuroscience Cultural Change Learning Techniques Interpretation
  1. Understanding problems as conditions of the game can help navigate workplace challenges more effectively.
  2. Immersion in challenges rather than resistance can enhance performance and freedom in various domains.
  3. Having a rich vocabulary and nuanced understanding can lead to better predictions and responses, benefiting overall effectiveness.

If Miranda Priestley Was Your Boss | LSW#45

29 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Organizational dynamics Communication Career development Coaching
  1. Recognize the importance of adjusting your approach based on who you're working with, especially dealing with power differentials in organizational settings
  2. Learn to identify leader stereotypes and their preferences to improve stakeholder interactions
  3. Understand that stakeholders have unique styles that require tailored approaches for effective communication and collaboration

The Donkey, Fox, Sheep, & Owl | LSW#43

29 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Workplace dynamics Leadership Organizational Behavior Career development Human Resources
  1. Everyone has some level of political awareness in the workplace, but it varies in understanding and application.
  2. Reading involves understanding the external world and organization, while carrying focuses on ethical behavior versus manipulation.
  3. Owls are wise in politics, balancing awareness, integrity, and interpersonal skills.

3 Pillars of Career Success | LSW#42

19 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Career Leadership Success Coaching Skills
  1. Confident ignorance often wins out over conscientious intelligence in workplaces, limiting career growth and impact.
  2. Beyond self and technical competence, organizational competence is a critical pillar for long-term career success.
  3. Successful careers involve understanding the art of organizational savvy and navigating workplace dynamics effectively.
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LSW#20 🎭Acting into New Ways of Thinking

39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mindset Behavior Change Learning Self-Improvement Personal Development
  1. Action can often be easier than changing your mindset or waiting to feel ready before taking action.
  2. Focusing on the verb (action) is often more within our control and judgment-free than focusing on the noun (mindset).
  3. Acting your way into a new way of thinking can lead to growth and learning, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

LSW#18 🤔Do You MBWA?

29 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Networking Conversation Books
  1. Practice MBWA (Managing by Wandering Around) can be more effective than an MBA.
  2. Effective leadership involves understanding the work of your team and being visible and accessible.
  3. Engage in casual conversations and networking within and outside your organization to enhance success and effectiveness.

Feynman's Obliquity | LSW#41

2 HN points • 18 Jan 24
🚌 Education Goals Decision-making Problem Solving Philosophy Career development
  1. Richard Feynman's method of reframing goals from a positivist to a more playful perspective led to breakthroughs and ultimately, success.
  2. There's a difference between the direct approach and the oblique approach to decision-making and problem-solving, with obliquity often leading to innovative and effective solutions.
  3. It's important to consider incorporating obliquity into our goal-setting strategies, as over-reliance on direct approaches may limit potential for creativity and success.

LSW #5 Effect of technology and our expectations of speed

0 implied HN points • 02 May 22
  1. Technology changes our expectations of speed in everything we do.
  2. Leadership should understand the human domain and promote growth and development.
  3. Reflection is key to understanding where change efforts may have gone wrong.

LSW #13 Action, mindset and balancing the head, heart, and hand

0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 22
  1. Forget about mindset and focus on taking action first for achieving your goals.
  2. Balance the head, heart, and hand to improve your change efforts in work and life.
  3. Identify whether head, heart, or hand dominates in your failed change attempts and work on balancing all three for future endeavors.

LSW #8 On Dichotomy of Control and Nudging

0 implied HN points • 23 May 22
  1. Some things are under our control, others are not - discerning between the two is key.
  2. Influencing by nudging is often more effective than commanding, especially in managerial roles.
  3. Strategic conversations and influencing behavior positively can lead to better outcomes for teams.

LSW #12 Understanding how Bezos thinks

0 implied HN points • 20 Jun 22
  1. Bezos' shareholder letters contain key ideas on decision making and failure that can benefit you at work and in life.
  2. Being distinct and standing out requires effort and comes with a price.
  3. Reflect on areas where you default to the norm, be aware of your mental models, and consider which ones may be holding you back.

LSW#4 Deliberate practice in leadership and communication

0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 22
  1. Implement deliberate practice in leadership to improve communication skills.
  2. Understand the three axioms of human communication for effective conversations.
  3. Focus on being aware and respectful of others' purposes, concerns, and circumstances to create value in communication.

LSW #1 Leadership effectiveness, conversational shit, and like fish in water

0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 22
  1. Conversations are crucial in leadership and can significantly impact effectiveness.
  2. Avoid falling into the trap of using 'conversational shit' like cliched small talk, lies, or unrealistic grandiose plans.
  3. Reflect on your conversations regularly to avoid unproductive communication patterns.

LSW #10 Self doubt, imposter syndrome and peak performance

0 implied HN points • 06 Jun 22
  1. Self doubt and imposter syndrome are common among high performers.
  2. Instead of trying to eliminate doubt, view it as a signal for growth.
  3. Awareness of concepts like the Dunning-Kruger effect and Impostor Syndrome can help in personal development.

LSW #2 Mastering Context

0 implied HN points • 11 Apr 22
  1. Leaders need to master and reengineer the context surrounding their teams and organizations.
  2. Our individual context influences the choices we make and determines what is possible for us as leaders.
  3. Reflect on the context from which you operate and consider if it is by design or default.

LSW #6 Transitioning to leadership & domains of competence

0 implied HN points • 09 May 22
  1. Transitioning from a specialist to a generalist role in leadership can be challenging.
  2. There are seven key shifts that leaders make during a transition, such as from tactician to strategist.
  3. Reflection is important to identify blind spots and biases that may impact our careers.

LSW #9 Limbo, getting better and optionality

0 implied HN points • 31 May 22
  1. Limbo can be worse than a clear disaster, as uncertainty can feel more challenging.
  2. As we practice and improve over time, tasks become easier and faster.
  3. Committing fully can bring clarity and power, compared to keeping options open.