The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Culture is Contagious

Ways of Working • 78 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Company culture is the set of values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape an organization.
  2. Company culture can be contagious and influences how we behave and think.
  3. Being mindful of company culture is important as it can impact our growth and well-being.

Putin's weak spot?

Comment is Freed • 92 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Peace talks between key leaders are starting, but Ukraine's concerns are being overlooked. They're worried that negotiations might not prioritize their interests.
  2. Putin appears to want a victory in negotiations but is only being offered a draw. This creates tension as the goals of Russia and the US don’t fully align.
  3. The state of Russia's economy is fragile due to the ongoing war, which could influence Putin's decisions in peace talks. He might seek a favorable deal now while the US administration is somewhat supportive.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Taking Responsibility Without Sliding Into Shame

Suzan's Fieldnotes • 78 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Making mistakes is normal and can strain relationships, but how we address them matters most.
  2. Shame is harmful and can hinder the process of repairing relationships and rebuilding trust.
  3. Leaders should take responsibility for their actions without succumbing to shame, fostering vulnerability and strengthening connections.

The Best Businesses are the Worst

MoneyLemma • 78 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Great companies are a myth - even the best ones have flaws and imperfections.
  2. Focus on doing the job at hand well, not on perfection - being good enough is the key to success.
  3. The best companies excel in certain areas but may be lacking in others - it's a trade-off due to scarce resources.

Quarterbacks and Leadership

Dunnstack • 78 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Leadership
  1. Culture plays a significant role in the success of NFL quarterbacks.
  2. A strong culture can lead to individual and collective greatness.
  3. Honesty and candor are crucial aspects of building a positive culture in football teams.

How to empower your team through autonomy, mastery and purpose

Effective Software Leads • 78 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Empower your team by involving them in decision-making and letting them contribute to the team's goals and projects
  2. Provide your team with autonomy by giving them the freedom to choose how they approach tasks and make decisions
  3. Empower your team by giving them opportunities to work on stretch projects that challenge and help them grow, and by connecting their work to a larger purpose

Mastering the Art of Adaptable Leadership | Guest Issue by Rebecca Jackson

The Leadership Lab • 78 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Adapting is crucial in today's fast-evolving business world, and being adaptable means more than just reacting quickly to changes.
  2. To cultivate adaptability, leaders can engage in self-coaching exercises like identifying principles guiding decisions and assessing habitual practices that may hinder adaptable thinking.
  3. Enhancing adaptability involves questioning norms, experimenting with leadership styles to get the best from the team, and being willing to take risks for innovation.

Why We Fail to Change

The Leadership Lab • 78 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Behavior change fails when we target outcomes that do not truly align with our desires. Adjust goals if they do not feel right.
  2. Change can be hindered when more immediate needs take precedence. Focus on addressing foundational needs first before pursuing higher aspirations.
  3. Uncertainty can impede behavior change, even when all other elements seem aligned. Find and believe in a reliable process to facilitate change.

A case for boring (AI) products 🛠️

The SaaS Baton • 78 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Be cautious with following trends in tech - it can be risky if not aligned with real utility for people.
  2. Consider going solo as a founder before looking for a co-founder - it might lead to more success.
  3. When scoping a new venture, focus on solving real, acute problems with high market potential to build a successful business.

As an engineering leader, you’re not managing a cruise ship. You’re managing a flotilla.

Developing Leadership • 78 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. As an engineering leader, don't treat your organization like a cruise ship, but rather like a flotilla of multiple boats working towards a shared goal
  2. Approach your organization as the admiral of the flotilla, allowing each team to move independently but aiming for overall success
  3. Encourage communication and collaboration between teams, so they can leverage their unique strengths to achieve more collectively

Everything I Know About Business I Stole from the San Francisco 49’ers

Michael’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Athletes and entrepreneurs are similar, as they both need to play to their strengths, bounce back from losses, and work for results that may take time to show.
  2. Focus on processes and habits in business rather than just on outcomes like growth rates and revenue.
  3. Challenging assumptions, trusting gut instincts, and being resourceful are key for entrepreneurs to succeed, just like Bill Walsh did with the San Francisco 49'ers.

Will Reform Kill the Tory Party?

Comment is Freed • 109 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. The current political landscape shows a lack of confidence in the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, with people even betting on Nigel Farage as a potential Prime Minister candidate. This reflects a growing dissatisfaction within the party.
  2. Reform Party has gained attention with some wins in local elections and defections from former Tory MPs, suggesting they may become a more serious competitor against the Tories.
  3. The Tory Party is facing increased pressure and vulnerability, especially among younger voters, making it possible for another party to challenge their position as the main party on the right.

Permission to Act: The Psychology of Effective Planning | LSW#59

The Leading Sapiens Weekly • 120 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Plans help us take action, even if they're not perfect. They give us the confidence to start exploring without needing everything to be figured out.
  2. Taking steps forward can bring clarity. Instead of waiting for a perfect plan, moving can help us learn and adjust along the way.
  3. Sometimes, acting on a not-so-accurate map can be better than seeking perfection. It allows us to move forward and learn from our experiences rather than staying stuck.

Firefighting

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Teams should be designed to adapt quickly to change rather than stay rigid. This means creating temporary project teams that can be evaluated and disbanded if they're no longer needed.
  2. Instead of focusing on strict, clear KPIs, organizations should promote flexibility. This allows teams more freedom to make the right choices based on changing situations.
  3. Employees should be encouraged to take on roles that allow for continual change. This mindset helps everyone prepare for shifts in their jobs and the organization as a whole.

On Tyranny

Thinking about... • 311 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Authoritarian power is often given willingly by individuals, don't comply in advance.
  2. Defend institutions that uphold decency and democracy by actively supporting them.
  3. Be vigilant against the rise of one-party states and fight to uphold democratic principles and multiple-party systems.

The Simple Secret to Influence

Perspectives • 10 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Influence comes from making other people feel smart, not from showing how smart you are. When people leave a conversation feeling capable, they trust and follow you more than if they just feel impressed.
  2. Use simple habits—give clear context, speak plainly, ask curious questions, avoid assumptions, and give credit—to invite ideas and keep conversations productive. These small choices help people feel heard and willing to share.
  3. Real leadership is about creating psychological safety so people can take risks and learn, not about dominating the spotlight. You gain lasting influence by empowering others to grow and contribute.

Driving Extreme Clarity

Perspectives • 7 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Prefer a clear no to a messy yes because vague agreements hide real disagreements and cause wasted work later.
  2. Prioritize by force-ranking hard choices; if prioritization doesn’t feel painful, you aren’t prioritizing clearly enough.
  3. Capture decisions in writing (prework, live notes, restatements, and a running alignment document) so alignment lasts and people can act confidently.

Claim Chowder: She Did Good

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 130 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Incumbent parties in 2024 faced tough challenges, and Kamala Harris struggled to meet expectations as part of that scenario.
  2. Public perception of Kamala Harris has not been very positive, affecting her and the Biden administration's approval ratings.
  3. Many Democrats are less enthusiastic about Harris as a candidate for the future, raising questions about her role in upcoming elections.

How to be(come) a manager

Wednesday Wisdom • 123 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Becoming a manager means doing a different job, not just coding. You won't have much time for hands-on tasks, so you need to let that go and focus on managing your team instead.
  2. It’s important to find a mentor and connect with peers who can help you learn how to manage better. Talking with others in similar situations can give you fresh ideas and support.
  3. You need to learn the tools and skills required for management. Understanding processes, having tough conversations, and giving feedback are all key parts of being a successful manager.

Make Your Future a Little Less Uncertain

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Success can come with unexpected challenges, which can be hard to talk about. It's important to recognize and address these challenges as they arise.
  2. Changes in society, like those seen during the pandemic, can really impact how organizations connect with their clients. Adapting communication methods is crucial for effective outreach.
  3. Issues like inflation and increased stress in people's lives can lead to more divorces and conflicts. Organizations need to be ready to support their clients through these tough times.

Being an Engineering Manager at Meta

Leading Developers • 100 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. At Meta, managers are there to support their engineers, who have the freedom to choose their projects and set goals. This leads to a culture where trust and autonomy help engineers excel.
  2. Managers at Meta are evaluated based on the impact of their team and how they help individual contributors grow. It's important for managers to realize their role in coaching and supporting their engineers, rather than taking credit for their success.
  3. Meta encourages a fast-paced environment where developers can easily set up their work and start contributing quickly. This focus on efficiency comes from long-term investments in tools that make working faster and smoother.

The Power of Generativity in Platform Systems

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. In platform ecosystems, generativity plays a crucial role in driving innovation by allowing third-party developers to continuously create new offerings that enhance the core product's value over time.
  2. Balancing generativity is essential for platform success; too much generativity can lead to free-riding behavior where developers exploit the efforts of others, while the right amount can signal growth opportunities and encourage high-quality contributions.
  3. As platform ecosystems mature, business leaders and policymakers must navigate the challenges of maintaining a balance between positive reputation spillover effects and negative free-rider effects to ensure sustained innovation and user satisfaction.

How Apple became Warren Buffett's best investment.

Jon’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 06 May 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Warren Buffett sees Apple as the best business in his investment portfolio, worth over $150 billion. His comfort with Apple represents a big change since he used to avoid tech stocks.
  2. Buffett understands consumer loyalty to Apple products, emphasizing how people might give up a car before their iPhone. This strong demand creates a protective advantage for Apple.
  3. Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, is praised by Buffett for his leadership and shareholder respect. Apple's strong financials, like stock buybacks and dividends, benefit Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway.

Problems at The Beauty Health Co (SKIN)

The Bear Cave • 559 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The Beauty Health Co faces intense competition from DiamondGlow, backed by Allergan.
  2. Hydrafacial and DiamondGlow are similar products but have different distribution strategies.
  3. Allergan's dominant distribution network through brands like BOTOX could challenge Hydrafacial's market position.

Vlad the Bad

Diane Francis • 679 implied HN points • 22 Mar 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Vladimir Putin is seen as incredibly powerful and wealthy, controlling vast resources in Russia while keeping the country impoverished. Most Russians live on very little despite the country's riches.
  2. Putin's regime is characterized by harsh control, eliminating political opponents and using propaganda. His foreign policy aims to weaken Western institutions and expand Russian influence.
  3. The relationship between the U.S. and Putin is tense, especially after recent comments from President Biden calling Putin a 'killer.' There are expectations for serious consequences, but Putin is unlikely to back down easily.

It’s Day 3 of a Disastrous Presidency and the Numbers Are In: No One Likes What Donald Trump Is Doing—Including MAGAs

Proof • 94 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Many people are unhappy with the current actions being taken by the president, including his own supporters. This suggests a disconnect between leadership choices and public opinion.
  2. There's a question regarding who the president is really trying to help with his policies. It raises doubts about his priorities and motivations.
  3. The early days of this presidency are already marked by serious criticism, indicating potential challenges ahead for the administration.

Want an unfair advantage in your tech career? Consume content meant for other roles

Matthew’s Substack • 544 HN points • 06 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. To stand out in your tech career, gain a competitive advantage by consuming content meant for roles you work with.
  2. Understanding other roles helps you avoid common pitfalls and promotes cross-functional collaboration in modern tech companies.
  3. Learning about other roles boosts empathy, clears misconceptions, and helps you be strategic in your interactions with colleagues.

Bob Iger is back as Disney's CEO.

Jon’s Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Bob Iger has returned as CEO of Disney after the ousting of Bob Chapek. This marks a surprising shift since Iger had stepped down in early 2020.
  2. Iger's previous leadership was highly successful, with Disney's market value increasing by $200 billion during his time as CEO. He was responsible for major deals and launches, like Disney+ and acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel.
  3. The company is facing challenges, such as pressure from investors for profit and upcoming job cuts. Iger's relationship with employees and vision for the company will be crucial in navigating these issues.