The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Live your life on your own terms

Tech Ramblings • 59 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Live your life based on what makes you happy, not what society expects. Success should be determined by your own values, not just money or status.
  2. When building a company, stay true to your vision and don’t let outside pressures change your path. Make decisions based on what you believe is right for your business.
  3. It's important to reject social pressure and focus on what brings you peace. Everyone has a unique way of enjoying life, and that's perfectly okay.

Invert, always invert

The Engineering Manager • 10 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Inversion is a problem-solving technique where you think about how things could fail instead of just focusing on how to succeed. This helps you spot potential problems before they happen.
  2. Using inversion in engineering projects can reveal blind spots we often miss when we only plan for success. By anticipating failure, we can create better strategies and avoid disasters.
  3. Next time you're starting a big project, try doing an 'inversion pass.' Ask what could go wrong and work to prevent those issues, which can lead to more successful outcomes.

Tribute to My Dad

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 2 HN points • 21 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Leadership
  1. The importance of honesty and integrity shaped my dad's life. He always tried to do what was right for himself and his family.
  2. My dad taught me that family and health are more important than money. He showed me that a fulfilling life doesn't depend on being rich.
  3. True leadership is about who you are as a person, not just what you do. My dad embodied values that inspired others around him.

Startups: Stop innovating so damn much

CommandBlogue • 1 HN point • 06 Sep 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Startups should focus their innovation efforts on fewer things that really matter. Trying to change everything can slow your progress and make things confusing.
  2. Innovation comes with risks, especially if a startup decides to ignore proven methods that have worked for successful companies. It's often safer to go with what’s already known to work.
  3. Not all areas need innovation. It's smarter to copy what works well in job roles, company structure, and communication tools, so you can spend your energy on truly valuable changes.

The importance of mentoring in engineering leadership - part 2

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Mentoring is important for both personal and professional growth. It helps you learn from others and share your own experiences.
  2. As a mentor, you don’t need to have all the answers. You can facilitate discussions and brainstorm solutions with your mentee.
  3. Being involved in mentorship can speed up your learning, especially when facing new career challenges or transitions.
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The "Macros" for healthy engineering teams - part 3: Fats

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 19 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Strategic thinking is like 'good fat' for engineering teams, helping them store energy and prepare for future challenges. It keeps teams motivated and focused on long-term success.
  2. Technical debt is considered 'bad fat' that can lead to inefficiencies and low morale. Just like bad fats in the diet, if ignored, it can cause serious problems down the line.
  3. Engineering leaders should encourage their teams to develop strategies that address technical debt, ensuring ongoing productivity and health for the team and the software they produce.

A New, Perhaps Not-All-That-Different Bernie Sanders

Gideon's Substack • 35 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Republicans may be making risky decisions in politics because they think they can win even if their actions are unpopular. They believe that the Democrats are so disliked that it won't hurt them in elections.
  2. The Democratic Party is struggling with public trust, and many people think negatively of them. To win back supporters, they may need a significant change in leadership and strategy, rather than just better messaging.
  3. There might be a need for a new leader within the Democrats who isn't tied to the current party system, similar to Bernie Sanders, to inspire and connect emotionally with voters and reshape the party.

Silenced Warnings

The Radar • 39 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Ignoring warnings can lead to significant consequences in any endeavor.
  2. Desensitization to repetitive cues can result in catastrophic loss.
  3. Leaders should encourage open challenge and avoid an autocratic approach to prevent missing important cues that could save the organization.

When do sentiment shocks boost economic growth?

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership
  1. When economic uncertainty is high, positive surprises in GDP tend to trigger faster output growth for about two years, but similar surprises don’t boost growth when uncertainty is low.
  2. Prices respond the opposite way: in high-uncertainty periods a positive sentiment shock slightly lowers prices, while in low-uncertainty periods it tends to raise prices (more inflation).
  3. In uncertain times businesses and investors take cues from data and leaders, so optimistic signals or inspirational leadership can change behaviour and become self-fulfilling, whereas in stable times such efforts usually have little effect.

The 3 top mistakes of managers under 30

Leading Developers • 103 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Young managers often worry about their age and try too hard to prove themselves. It's better to ignore age and focus on maturity and confidence.
  2. Trying too hard to be liked can backfire. It's important to give honest feedback and set clear expectations without being overly apologetic.
  3. Making quick decisions can be risky. It's wise to consult team members, especially those with more experience, before deciding on important matters.

Procrustes - en francais!

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Be ruthless about scope: focus your team on solving the real business problems in priority order and cut anything not necessary to be ready by the deadline.
  2. Make hard decisions early so the team can finish the core work on time rather than stretching to satisfy endless custom requests.
  3. Use a skilled account manager to manage client expectations, reframe requirements as requests, and deliver what users need instead of promising every requested feature.

Procrustes - auf Deutsch!

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Ruthlessly focus on the customer's real business problems and cut anything nonessential so the team can meet an immovable launch date.
  2. Use experienced customer-facing people to manage expectations, reframing many requests from “requirements” to “wishes” and disappointing customers tactfully when needed.
  3. Avoid micromanaging by scheduling regular update checkpoints in your calendar and making the team accountable for progress so you only act when issues are reported.

Why the Trump/Musk partnership is taking off

Unreported Truths • 82 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Trump and Musk are teaming up because they both have strong personalities and different skills that can complement each other. Trump is good at understanding the public's feelings and grabbing attention, while Musk excels at details and engineering.
  2. Musk's talents could help address the huge, complicated American government. He loves taking on big challenges, and shrinking government could be one of the toughest yet.
  3. This partnership might last for a while since they both seem to support each other's goals and values, despite possible future conflicts over attention and priorities.

CROSSPOST: Josh Marshall: State of Play on Capitol Hill

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 99 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Elon Musk has become a major player in government discussions, shaking things up in ways even Donald Trump can't control. It's like Musk is the new chaos agent, and everyone has to deal with the mess he creates.
  2. Trump is trying to lead the charge but is struggling because Musk's influence is unpredictable and strong. This situation shows that Trump doesn't have the same grip on power as he used to.
  3. The recent events in Congress highlight the rising tension within the Republican Party. Many Republicans are defying Trump's wishes, which is unusual and suggests a shift in loyalty and power dynamics.

Forever Young.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 36 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Having a growth mindset can help you stay forever young, just like how technology constantly updates itself. It's important to keep learning and adapting your thoughts.
  2. There's a difference between feeling young and actually being young. As we age, it's okay to embrace wisdom but also to find ways to maintain a youthful spirit.
  3. Letting go of certain roles or mindsets when the time is right can help you grow. Staying relevant means knowing when to pass the baton and step into new opportunities.

How Much Frustration Can You Tolerate? | LSW#60

The Leading Sapiens Weekly • 90 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Tolerating frustration is important for long-term success. It helps us stick to our goals even when things get tough.
  2. Lowering your standards can actually help. It means accepting that things won't always be easy, which allows us to push through challenges.
  3. Seeing frustration as a teacher can change our mindset. Instead of avoiding it, we should embrace it as part of the growth process.

The USA is Trump's Now, Europe Must Get Ready

Phillips’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Trump is becoming president again with a strong majority, and this changes things for Europe. They need to prepare for new challenges ahead.
  2. Trump's stance on NATO could make the alliance less effective. US forces might not defend Europe if Trump doesn't want them to.
  3. European leaders might try to win Trump over, but it's uncertain if it will work. They need to face the reality that things cannot stay the same.

OpenAI & Grand Strategy

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 299 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Grand strategy in tech involves aligning aspirations with capabilities.
  2. Building capabilities over time is essential for achieving ambitious goals.
  3. Maintaining flexibility, forming alliances, and understanding the bigger picture are key aspects of becoming a successful grand strategist.

Things Change, Things Stay the Same

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Despite changes over time, some problems, like toxic leadership, persist unchanged.
  2. Ignoring toxic leadership allows it to continue and negatively impact organizations.
  3. Toxic leadership isn't just about overt hostility, but also subtle influences that harm teams.

Uncompromising Celerity

Embracing Enigmas • 39 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Projects can be completed quickly and ambitiously with the right approach and mindset.
  2. Key factors like ownership, innovation, and setting big goals contribute to outsized performance.
  3. Embracing uncertainty, flexibility, and adapting to challenges are crucial for achieving fast and successful outcomes in large projects.

Giving Feedback

Build To Scale • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Feedback should be timely, specific, and actionable to help someone improve.
  2. Good managers teach employees best practices in their field, emphasizing long-term success over quick fixes.
  3. Deliver feedback with kindness and the goal of helping someone grow, erring on over-communication to ensure clarity and development.

RDEL #37: What drives sense of belonging on software teams?

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 19 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Teams with a strong sense of belonging are more effective and deliver more value due to better communication, trust, and a supportive environment for experimentation.
  2. Factors such as psychological safety and work appreciation positively impact the sense of belonging on software teams.
  3. For managers, recognizing and appreciating team efforts significantly influences the sense of belonging and overall team productivity.

Solving employee loneliness is the first step to better teams

Make Work Better • 114 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Employee loneliness is common at work, with many workers lacking real friends in their workplace. This loneliness can impact team dynamics and overall job satisfaction.
  2. Simply working in a team or attending the office more days doesn’t automatically reduce loneliness. Real connections need to be actively fostered during work hours.
  3. Companies can improve employee connection by allowing time for social interactions, like team lunches or casual meetings. These small initiatives can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness among coworkers.

I, for one, am opposed to monarchy

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Chime, a financial technology company, is planning to go public in 2025. This news has raised hopes for a surge of initial public offerings (IPOs) next year.
  2. There's a growing expectation that a single powerful figure, like Elon Musk, could influence political decisions more than traditional leaders. This shift raises concerns about the concentration of power in politics.
  3. Many tech industry supporters seem to prefer a strong leader who acts quickly without debate, akin to a king. This reflects a desire for streamlined control rather than involving the usual checks and balances in government.

You don't need more code. You need more business impact. | Thoughtworks' Chris Westerhold

Dev Interrupted • 32 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Focus on business impact instead of just adding more code. It's important to ensure that your efforts are aligned with real business goals.
  2. Most problems in engineering come from people and processes, not technology. A better approach is to use systems thinking to improve efficiency.
  3. Developers are now using AI tools to save time and enhance their work. This change is helping them focus more on quality and collaboration.

My biggest mistakes as a data-science team lead

inexactscience • 59 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Leadership style should change based on each team member's skills and motivation. It's important to adjust how you lead as people grow and face new challenges.
  2. Focusing only on problems can lead to neglecting high performers. Instead of constantly putting out fires, you should aim to create overall value in the team.
  3. Using data to measure success in a team is crucial. Setting clear metrics helps you understand progress and ensure your efforts are effective.

August 22, 2025

Letters from an American • 24 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. The FBI raided John Bolton's home, showing a strong move from Trump to use government power against his critics. It sends a clear message to anyone speaking out against him.
  2. Trump is rethinking the role of the FBI and military, suggesting that they should focus more on controlling political opponents rather than just fighting crime. This raises concerns about authoritarian tactics.
  3. There is a push from Trump's allies to rewrite history and gather support for him, including intimidating others and potentially influencing voting rights. This shows a dangerous shift in how political power is being used.

Addressing the challenges of partially distributed engineering teams

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Partially distributed teams face communication issues because some team members are in the office while others are remote. This can lead to misunderstandings and feelings of isolation for those not present.
  2. Visibility is important in a team; if members are not seen often, their work may be overlooked during reviews and recognition. It's crucial for managers to be aware of everyone's contributions, regardless of where they work.
  3. Creating clear expectations around availability and encouraging informal conversations can help build better relationships within the team. Taking time to connect as people makes working together easier.

Using fake deadlines without driving your engineers crazy

Leading Developers • 98 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Setting deadlines helps teams focus and improve productivity. When there’s a finish line, people are more likely to get things done quickly.
  2. Involve your team in setting deadlines to avoid frustration. If they help decide what's realistic, they'll feel more committed to meeting the goal.
  3. It's okay to be flexible with deadlines. Sometimes things change, and what's important is clear communication with the team about any adjustments.

"I don't want to do our cheat way of getting 12 objectives by bundling everything under three things"

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 4 HN points • 23 Jul 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. It's really hard to focus on just three priorities because teams often want to tackle too many things at once. Picking fewer goals helps you actually get more done.
  2. Organizations keep adding new projects and ideas without removing old ones, which creates overload. It's important to occasionally remove tasks or projects to avoid burnout.
  3. Having too many ideas can slow down progress, so it’s essential to have a way to filter them. Voting or aligning them with key priorities helps decide which ideas to pursue.

Every Tech Leader Needs a Coach in Their Pocket

The Hagakure • 30 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Tech leaders can benefit from having an AI-powered coach to help them stay focused and adaptable. This kind of coach can meet you where you are and guide you in reaching your goals.
  2. Mental and physical health play a big role in how effectively leaders can manage challenges. Being in shape can enhance focus and decision-making.
  3. SwitchUp is designed to help people clarify their goals and make progress without feeling overwhelmed. The aim is to support personal growth in a human-centered way.

Welcome to Upon Reflection!

Upon Reflection • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. This space focuses on topics like personal and professional growth, executing strategy, evolving company culture, and building high-performing teams relevant to modern-day leaders.
  2. The platform is intended for those pursuing meaningful work, leading authentically, feeling stuck, or first-time leaders looking for a fresh approach.
  3. Subscribing offers insights gathered from numerous sources like books, coaching clients, and case studies to equip leaders with tools and mindsets for effective leadership.

LinkedIn Posts from 2022 and 2023

In Depth on Africa Fintech • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. LinkedIn can be a useful tool for clarifying thinking by writing publicly.
  2. The topics covered include banking, payments, fintech, regulation, innovation, leadership, ecommerce, emerging markets analysis, electric vehicles, venture capital, and general business/startups.
  3. Content includes insights on leadership, customer acquisition, startup success, failure reasons, investing in Africa, and disrupting industries.

Staying Calm When You Want to Disappear

Leading Developers • 103 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. When faced with pressure, pause and take a deep breath. It helps calm your nerves before responding.
  2. Always evaluate the situation by asking yourself questions about what's happening and what you know versus what you don't.
  3. After assessing, respond clearly and confidently. It's important to communicate what you understand and seek help if needed.

Oxford Nanopore Firesides

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The company's CFO led public conversations about technology and customer topics, speaking in a role I'd expect from a CEO.
  2. He came across as capable and handled the discussions well, even though some viewpoints may differ.
  3. More detailed notes and content are behind a paywall, but links to the fireside chats are provided for further listening.