The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Stop Aiming at the Wrong Targets

Polymathic Being • 54 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🚌 Education Leadership
  1. In war, success requires looking at targets in front of you and those over the horizon.
  2. In technology and business, it's important to focus not just on immediate targets, but also on targets further away.
  3. Systems thinking involves engaging deeply across domains to find solutions for complex problems, even those that are not immediately visible.

Culture as a Driver of Success (or Failure)

peoplefirstengineering • 14 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Leadership
  1. Workplace culture is complex and hard to define, but it affects how we feel and perform at work. Everyone experiences it differently based on their individual stories.
  2. Culture is built through the interactions of team members and can change over time. It’s not something that can be easily controlled or fixed with a simple solution.
  3. Everyone at work plays a role in shaping the culture. By being aware of our behaviors and choices, we can create a positive environment together.

The Art of The Impossible

Danielle Newnham • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The newsletter shares inspiring content for founders, including podcasts, interviews, quotes, books, and videos.
  2. Founders can benefit from learning about what investors look for, pitfalls to avoid in fundraising, and the importance of building a network.
  3. The book 'Super Founders' reveals surprising insights about billion-dollar startups, such as the lack of industry experience among unicorn founders and the role of competition.

The Morality Paradox

Who is Robert Malone • 18 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Leadership
  1. High-agency people have the ability to shape their own lives and pursue their goals actively. They take control and create opportunities instead of just waiting for them.
  2. Being goal-oriented is important, but high-agency individuals also display qualities like resilience, discipline, and creativity. They aren't just about making plans; they push through challenges.
  3. While high-agency behaviors can lead to great achievements, they may also come with a lack of empathy or ethical considerations. It's crucial for these individuals to balance ambition with integrity.
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150+ Product Management Resources and 50+ ChatGPT Prompts: Your Complete 2025 PM Toolkit 🚀

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 16 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. There are over 150 useful resources for product management that can help professionals navigate topics like strategy, leadership, and AI integration.
  2. The toolkit includes more than 50 ChatGPT prompts designed to enhance productivity and creativity for product managers.
  3. New tools like ProductGPT can help product managers get customized answers and streamline their workflow, making their jobs easier.

Nick Saban Rejects the Gerontocracy

House of Strauss • 45 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Leadership
  1. Nick Saban's retirement as a top coach at age 72 was a rare and thoughtful decision in sports.
  2. The concept of gerontocracy, where older individuals persist in power, is notable in both sports and politics.
  3. Recognizing one's limitations with age and gracefully passing responsibilities to the next generation is a wise and necessary practice.

How to turn those Big Ideas of yours into reality

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 15 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. First, be clear about your ideas. Take time to visualize what you really want to achieve. Use your imagination to paint a detailed picture of your goals and dreams for your business.
  2. Next, don’t aim for perfection. Expect challenges and be flexible with your plans. Accept that things might not go as perfectly as you hoped, and that's okay; it can lead to new opportunities.
  3. Lastly, stay committed to your vision. Keep pushing through obstacles, reflect on your progress regularly, and seek support from others. Remember, it's important to adapt and keep moving forward, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

The Cultural Value Of Diversity in an Ecosystem

Midwest Humble • 13 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Leadership
  1. Working in diverse teams can spark more creativity and innovation. Different viewpoints help tackle problems better and serve a wider audience.
  2. Constraints can push individuals, especially women and diverse founders, to innovate and become more efficient. Working with less can lead to quicker, smarter decisions.
  3. The stories we tell about ourselves and our teams matter. It's important to focus on a positive narrative that encourages inclusion instead of letting negative beliefs hold us back.

Oxford Nanopore Hits ALL TIME Low!

ASeq Newsletter • 43 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Oxford Nanopore's share price hits all-time low due to high executive compensation.
  2. CEO of Oxford Nanopore received millions in compensation, leading to scrutiny.
  3. Suggestions for Oxford Nanopore include withdrawing certain products and reevaluating business strategies.

Who before what

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Choosing the right people is crucial for success. Having a strong team matters more than knowing exactly what to do first.
  2. Wells Fargo thrived because they recruited talented leaders who embraced change, while Bank of America struggled with weak leadership.
  3. This 'who before what' principle also applies to personal relationships. Make sure the people you bring into your life add value and support your growth.

Lead Like Giannis

DruGroup • 79 implied HN points • 27 Jul 21
🎾 Sports Leadership
  1. Giannis shows that hard work and determination can help overcome tough circumstances. He grew up poor but became a star by practicing really hard and making sacrifices.
  2. Family is really important to Giannis. He took steps to ensure his family was taken care of and brought them to live with him in the U.S. after he became successful.
  3. Giannis challenges the common trends in basketball by sticking with his team and focusing on teamwork. He doesn’t just chase money or fame, which makes him stand out.

Born or Trained

Polymathic Being • 49 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🚌 Education Leadership
  1. Leadership involves a mix of natural traits and learned skills
  2. Certain natural traits can make leading easier, like openness and agreeableness
  3. Training is essential for leadership, but it doesn't override your natural traits

What businesses, governments, and leaders should learn from Bell Labs [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Bell Labs was responsible for inventing remarkable technological advancements like the C programming language, Solar Cells, the Laser, and the UNIX operating system in just 10 years.
  2. Nine Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work done at Bell Labs, indicating the exceptional level of innovation and achievement within the organization.
  3. The special environment at Bell Labs fostered innovation and collaboration, setting a prime example for businesses, governments, and leaders looking to create successful and groundbreaking ideas.

Building a Lasting Organizational Influence (Feat. Wayne Schmidt)

DruGroup • 79 implied HN points • 20 Jul 21
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Organizations can have a lasting impact if they're built and managed well. Unlike ideas or people, organizations are resilient and can grow even when individual members come and go.
  2. Great leaders ensure continuity by preparing their organization for the future. This means recognizing and nurturing the leaders behind them and creating structures that last beyond their own involvement.
  3. It's important for leaders to balance their presence and absence strategically. Sometimes being there gives support, but not showing up can allow others to take the lead, which benefits the organization.

Responding to Loss with Courage and Compassion

Journal of Free Black Thought • 16 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Leadership
  1. Leaders should face their losses openly instead of ignoring them. This helps them understand their emotions and grow stronger.
  2. True grit involves recognizing fears and failures, while false grit is about pretending everything is fine. Leaders should embrace vulnerability to inspire real courage.
  3. Understanding the emotional impact of loss is key for effective leadership. Leaders must help others process their losses to facilitate positive change.

PP #36 | On the Difference between Support and Empowerment, EQ and Empathy, and Sleeping through Storms

The Leadership Lab • 19 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Leadership
  1. Try empowering instead of just supporting others; empower them to find their own strength and solutions.
  2. Emotional intelligence goes beyond empathy; it includes understanding and managing your own feelings, not just those of others.
  3. Preventing problems is as important as solving them; sometimes the calm preparedness to handle storms is more valuable than being a heroic problem-solver.

The Startup CTO's Handbook | Zach Goldberg

Dev Interrupted • 37 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. The core sections of The Startup CTO's Handbook include Management Fundamentals, Technical Leadership Concepts, and Hard Technology Decisions.
  2. Conducting career history interviews when hiring can reveal a candidate's mindset and how they handle challenges.
  3. Engineering leaders can stay technically relevant by reviewing pull requests and taking courses, even when not coding regularly.

Punch It In

CTOrly • 19 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Having a plan is crucial, but it's essential to plan practically and realistically for today.
  2. Traditional roadmapping may give a false sense of accomplishment without delivering tangible benefits to customers or the market.
  3. Prioritize making plans based on the current reality rather than uncertain future projections.

Manmohan Singh: India's Finest Talent Scout

Get Down and Shruti • 13 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Manmohan Singh had a unique ability to spot talented individuals and place them in roles where they could make a big impact. He believed in the importance of using people's skills in the best way possible.
  2. He was a great mentor to many young economists and helped them navigate their careers. Singh's guidance allowed them to contribute significantly to India's economic reforms.
  3. Singh focused on building strong networks and relationships, recognizing that teamwork was essential for lasting change. His approach emphasized collaboration over individual brilliance.

Company Culture and Leadership

Fish Food for Thought • 13 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. A company's culture often reflects its leadership. If leaders ignore ethics, the whole organization can suffer as a result.
  2. Leaders must take accountability for their company's actions. Not addressing unethical behavior can lead to major problems down the line.
  3. Creating a safe space for employees to speak up is important. When employees feel heard, it helps prevent small issues from becoming large scandals.

The Pivotal Thing

CTOrly • 19 implied HN points • 25 Aug 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Guard against unnecessary, preventable volatility in planning and focus on the quality of the problem rather than constantly changing solutions.
  2. Detangle desired outcomes from specific features in planning to enable pivoting on how to achieve goals while maintaining the constancy of overall objectives.
  3. Leaders should balance adapting to changes when necessary without causing unnecessary chaos by crying wolf with constant changes.

Preparing for Senior Level Leadership

DruGroup • 59 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Senior leadership comes with a lot of pressure that can be hard to escape, so preparing to share some of that pressure can help ease the transition.
  2. Making decisions as a senior leader is different because you need to own the choices you make, so it's good to practice making decisions at lower levels and learning from the outcomes.
  3. Time management is crucial for senior leaders, so getting better at saying no and focusing on important tasks can help when you reach that level of leadership.

On Keeping Score

CTOrly • 19 implied HN points • 18 Aug 22
💼 Business Leadership
  1. In a data-driven world, don't overlook the importance of gathering personal data from your colleagues.
  2. Use a simple question like 'What's your score?' to help understand your colleagues' feelings and improve their well-being.
  3. Asking simple questions and building trust can lead to deep, actionable insights for better leadership and communication.

2024: the year in review

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Efficiency is really important now. Companies need to do more with less and find ways to be productive without hiring more people.
  2. AI tools are becoming essential. Embracing technology like LLMs can boost productivity and help engineers work smarter.
  3. There’s a generational divide. Staying updated with technology is crucial, or you risk being left behind, both personally and for your company.

Engineering Culture and Team Dynamics in a Challenging Climate

peoplefirstengineering • 12 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Engineering culture is really important. It can help teams work better together and overcome tough times in the industry.
  2. Improving team dynamics and culture is hard work, but it pays off. When people feel motivated and safe, they can contribute more effectively.
  3. Since there's no one-size-fits-all approach, leaders need to pay attention to what works for their specific teams and focus on building supportive environments.

Building CAUSL - Episode 4: Building Publicly

CAUSL Effect • 19 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Building publicly can be risky because it exposes you to failure, but it can also be a powerful way to share your journey. People love to follow stories, especially ones that show growth and struggle.
  2. Authenticity matters a lot when sharing your story. By being honest and open about what you're experiencing, you build trust with your audience.
  3. Sharing your journey could inspire others to take risks too. Even if the outcome isn't perfect, the hope is that others will find motivation and encouragement in your story.

Navigating the First 90 Days Without (Too Many) Hiccups

Pragmatism • 64 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. In the first 30 days, focus on building relationships and understanding the company dynamics.
  2. From 30 to 60 days, dive into working with product and engineering counterparts, prioritize quick wins, and showcase thought leadership.
  3. Within 60 to 90 days, become a key stakeholder in planning, ship your first feature, refine the product roadmap, and take ownership of your product suite.