The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

January 19, 2025

Letters from an American • 40 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Heroism isn't about being perfect or doing grand things; it's about regular people choosing to help others, even when it's hard.
  2. Great figures in history, like Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank, acted bravely in dangerous situations without seeking fame.
  3. We still have heroes today who quietly do the right thing in their everyday lives, even if we don't always see them.

How to be an effective leader [StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The article discusses insights from senior leaders in tech about decision-making skills and leadership abilities.
  2. It mentions the importance of learning about experiences, processes, and common motifs from successful leaders.
  3. The post is beneficial for developers aiming for career growth, managers seeking to enhance their skills, and those interested in high-level team dynamics.

The Startup CEO Mindset

Tech Ramblings • 59 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The Stockdale Paradox teaches us to balance hope with reality. It's important to stay realistic about challenges while maintaining confidence in future success.
  2. Startup founders should always face the truth about their situation. Acknowledging difficulties is key to making smart decisions and moving forward.
  3. Optimism is good, but it shouldn't blind you to the hard work needed to succeed. Continuous effort and execution are essential for long-term growth.

Setting a team vision, mission, and strategy

Elevate • 19 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Having a clear team vision, mission, and strategy is crucial for guiding the team towards success.
  2. A vision or mission statement provides direction to team members and helps them navigate forward effectively.
  3. A comprehensive mission statement should also include the strategies required to achieve the stated mission.
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Building a Collage of Evidence To Boost Workforce Serendipity and Innovation

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 146 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Professor Claudia Goldin's research challenges myths about women's participation in the workforce.
  2. Increasing workforce serendipity requires proactive work-design strategies like cross-team collaboration and open spaces.
  3. Large employers are using employer branding and leadership strategies to attract diverse talent pools.

Gloves Off

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Old ideas and worn-out concepts in talent management must be identified and discarded to allow for genuine progress.
  2. Binary labels like 'hard skills vs soft skills' and 'introvert vs extrovert' are misleading and can hinder accurate talent assessment.
  3. The concept of 'high potential candidate' often introduces bias and leads to poor decision-making, hindering talent development and organizational growth.

The most popular Growth Needle posts of 2023

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Sears was really good at coming up with new ideas, but they missed their chance to keep changing with the times. They adapted once with mail orders and again with retail stores, but failed to innovate again.
  2. It's important to recognize your business identity and continuously adapt to stay relevant in the market. Sometimes, companies have everything they need to succeed but don't make the right moves.
  3. Learning from the past, like the story of Sears, can help guide future strategies. Businesses should not just rest on their accomplishments but keep pushing forward.

Welsh Labour isn’t working

The Path Not Taken • 110 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Leadership
  1. Welsh Labour has been in power for a long time, hindering progress of devolution in Wales.
  2. There are concerns about lack of transparency and competition in Welsh politics, affecting policy development and governance.
  3. Critics suggest the dominance of Welsh Labour discourages criticism and limits viable alternative political options in Wales.

One Year of Talks!

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 18 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Energy is key to team performance; the more energy a team has, the better they usually perform. Less energy can lead to burnout, which affects results.
  2. Sharing ideas and experiences through speaking engagements can help clarify personal thoughts and grow confidence. It's also a great way to inspire others.
  3. Keeping ideas simple can make a big difference in how people understand performance and well-being, making it easier for them to thrive at work.

Frankly Speaking - The rise of the technical security leader

Frankly Speaking • 203 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Establishing a foundational security strategy integrated into the engineering process is crucial for tech companies.
  2. The rise of security engineering leaders will be inevitable for growth companies of all sizes.
  3. Strong security design and fast iteration processes require a security engineering team rather than a traditional risk-focused security organization.

You are firing people too late

Leading Developers • 100 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Recognize the signs to fire early - acting soon can prevent bigger issues.
  2. Firing is hard for managers because of emotional connections and hope for employee improvement.
  3. Delaying firing decisions can harm employees, managers, and team dynamics.

Leadership co-processing with LLMs

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Using Language Learning Models (LLMs) can help managers think through problems better. They act as a creative assistant, pushing you to explore different angles and ideas.
  2. Pairing up with an LLM during discussions can enhance teamwork. It allows you to document your thought process and helps ensure you don't miss important details or insights.
  3. LLMs can also serve as a personal coach or executive assistant. They support planning and prioritizing tasks, helping leaders manage their workload and navigate organizational challenges.

How the All Blacks stopped being "chokers"

Ben’s Blog 🏉 🧠🧑‍💻 • 36 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Leadership
  1. The All Blacks learned to handle pressure better after being called 'chokers'. They realized that being physically fit wasn't enough to win under stress.
  2. They brought in a psychologist who taught them to focus on their process and how to reset themselves during games. This helped them stay calm and perform better.
  3. By changing their mindset and improving their mental game, the All Blacks became two-time World Cup champions and showed the importance of mental strength in sports.

Who Killed Twitter 1.0?

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Twitter struggled to grow because of poor leadership and weak management. Instead of making smart business decisions, they ended up being an easy target for a takeover.
  2. The company failed to innovate and improve, leading to stagnant stock prices. While other tech companies thrived, Twitter's management kept hiring without making meaningful changes.
  3. Even after Musk's takeover, Twitter faces challenges because it still hasn't solved its underlying issues. Competing platforms are emerging, creating a real threat to its future.

Frontend as part of the engineering culture

Sergiy’s Substack • 4 HN points • 07 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Frontend engineering should be treated as a first-class citizen within organizations, with equal importance and attention given to both design and performance.
  2. Interview processes for frontend roles should focus on problem-solving skills relevant to the job, rather than algorithm memorization.
  3. Maintain a balanced leadership focus on both frontend and backend, communicate the importance of frontend work, and provide resources for learning and appreciation of frontend development.

Your job as a CEO: Communicate a Vision

Tech Ramblings • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. As a CEO, one of your main jobs is to clearly communicate your vision. This helps inspire your team and attract customers who believe in your goals.
  2. A strong vision is important both inside your company and outside. It helps hire committed employees and serves as a marketing tool for your brand.
  3. Patagonia's founder, Yvon Chouinard, is a great example of someone who communicates a clear and responsible vision. His focus on sustainability has built a loyal customer base that values the brand's mission.

Be a brave fool

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. It's important to challenge authority and not just accept things because of titles or credentials. Listening to new ideas, even from less experienced people, can help avoid blind spots.
  2. Being self-deprecating and open to feedback makes you more approachable. Showing vulnerability helps create a better environment for discussion and improvement.
  3. Relying solely on past achievements can be a trap. Focus on the quality of your current work and be willing to debate ideas based on their merit rather than on who you are.

RDEL #22: How does gratitude influence the stress levels of software engineers?

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 19 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Leadership
  1. Gratitude has a significant negative relationship with perceived stress and fatigue in software engineers - more gratitude means less stress and fatigue.
  2. Women software engineers reported higher levels of stress and fatigue on average compared to men in the study.
  3. Showing gratitude in software engineering teams can reduce stress, increase happiness, and boost productivity - leaders should prioritize cultivating a culture of gratitude.

This Country Will Get The Leader It Deserves

OK Doomer • 47 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. People often don't believe bad things can happen to them, leading to a careless attitude towards safety and current events.
  2. Many will talk about their values but struggle to act on them when it really counts.
  3. There's a divide where some are engaged in important issues and others choose to ignore or avoid them.

Having expertise isn’t the same as communicating it

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 10 implied HN points • 20 Aug 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Having expertise is not enough; you need to communicate it effectively to be recognized and succeed. It's about how you connect with your audience, not just what you know.
  2. Turning your knowledge into income is both emotional and practical, and it requires navigating both aspects. You need to love what you do to stick with it.
  3. To grow your authority, carve out a specific niche and don't fall for the myth of overnight success. It takes consistent effort and experimentation to see real results.

Look at yourself in the mirror

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. People often show only their strengths and avoid talking about mistakes. It's important to face your failures honestly.
  2. Many founders mistakenly believe their company is doing well without understanding the real numbers. They need to check their reality against actual progress.
  3. Getting honest feedback is key to knowing if you're on the right path. Without it, it's hard to measure how well you're doing.

New advice for aspiring managers

The Engineering Manager • 15 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Becoming a manager today is different. You have to show that you can get the most out of your existing team since hiring new people is harder.
  2. Efficiency is key now. Managers should focus on making their teams work better with fewer resources instead of just growing their teams.
  3. Using AI is essential for managers. You need to help your team use AI tools effectively to improve productivity and show how these tools make a difference.

The Early-Stage Recruiting Trap

Tippets by Taps • 12 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Recruiting is crucial for startup success. If you don't make it a priority, you risk wasting your time and money.
  2. Everyone in the company should contribute to recruiting. Your team can help find great candidates through their networks.
  3. Good hires will help your business grow. Having the right people leads to better performance and less stress in the long run.

Building A Culture of Collaboration

Build To Scale • 19 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Co-locating the management team can help build trust and collaboration.
  2. Regularly bringing the management team together fosters shared experiences and teamwork.
  3. Hiring people with collaboration skills is crucial for maintaining a collaborative culture.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 30 - Q is for Quentin

The ZIPster • 35 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. CitNOW started as a small business and grew a lot over time. It shows how you can build something big from humble beginnings.
  2. Hiring the right people is super important for a company's success. Finding someone who can help guide and improve the business can make a big difference.
  3. Past mistakes can teach valuable lessons. It's essential to learn from experiences to avoid making the same errors in the future.

Decoding Elon Musk

Tanay’s Newsletter • 100 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Elon Musk's leadership style involves intensity and high standards, pushing employees to their limits for groundbreaking achievements.
  2. Musk's "Algorithm" for product development includes questioning every requirement, deleting unnecessary parts, simplifying, optimizing, accelerating cycle time, and automating.
  3. Musk's problem-solving approach is based on first principles thinking, stripping down complex problems to fundamental truths.

No Plan B

Fish Food for Thought • 13 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Having no backup plan can be a powerful motivator to pursue your dreams fully. It's like saying you're all-in on your goals, but it's important to be prepared for any bumps along the way.
  2. Experience shows us that things can and do go wrong, especially in complex systems like software. That's why it's smart to have a plan to recover quickly if issues arise.
  3. Leaders need to keep a strong vision while being flexible in their execution. You can be committed to your goals but also ready to adapt and fix problems when they come up.

Issue #18 – Organisational Structures for Today's Data Realities

The Data Ecosystem • 1 HN point • 11 Aug 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Organizing data teams is tricky because they need to work with different departments. Companies often struggle to define who owns data responsibilities since data is needed everywhere.
  2. Data roles are changing fast, making it hard for teams to have clear structures. As new roles appear, it can get confusing to know where everyone should fit within the team.
  3. Choosing the right structure for data teams is important and should align with a company's goals. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, and each company needs to find what works best for them.

That was the coup that was

Comment is Freed • 156 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Leadership
  1. Yevgeny Prigozhin's treasonous behavior led to a near coup in Russia, but he backed down in the end.
  2. The lack of mass support and negotiations led to Prigozhin's retreat from his march on Moscow.
  3. Putin's handling of the situation showed weaknesses, raising questions about his leadership in the face of challenges.

Good Explanations Require Vulnerability

Adam’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Good explanations require vulnerability to be effective and empowering.
  2. A good explanation strikes a balance between providing enough detail for understanding without overwhelming the recipient.
  3. Recognizing the importance of vulnerability in communication can help both junior and senior employees navigate interactions better.

AFTER BIDEN

Seymour Hersh • 45 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Many voters preferred Trump over a flawed Democratic candidate. They want a change in direction, especially regarding foreign policy.
  2. The past Democratic leadership choices are criticized for lacking strong vice presidential candidates. This may have weakened their political position.
  3. There’s a belief that Trump may persist in some of Biden's policies, particularly regarding support for Israel, despite wanting to change the approach towards Ukraine.

Three questions for Richard Hanania

Gray Mirror • 143 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
📖 Philosophy Leadership
  1. Richard Hanania reflects on his past beliefs and evolution, acknowledging his mistakes and growth.
  2. The text questions the sincerity of Hanania's views, discussing his goals and potential impact.
  3. The idea of classical liberalism explored in the text is challenged, as well as the effectiveness of proposed reforms and the role of a monarchy.