The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

TBM 337: Pirates and Garbage Cans

The Beautiful Mess • 343 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Leadership Conflict resolution Organizational Behavior Decision-making Team Dynamics
  1. Conflict in companies often stays unresolved because people are afraid to ask for help. This fear can make it look like admitting problems is a weakness.
  2. The Garbage Can model shows that decision-making is messy and often relies on chance rather than a clear process. Conflicts may get ignored until something urgent happens.
  3. Unlike businesses, pirate ships had systems in place for resolving conflicts because surviving together was crucial. Businesses can postpone resolving conflicts without facing immediate consequences, which can lead to bigger problems later.

We are back!

Off to Lunch • 1218 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business News Podcasts Leadership Startups Management
  1. Off to Lunch newsletter is back for 2024 with exciting plans, including relaunching Business Leader magazine.
  2. The podcast associated with Off to Lunch covers big business stories and interviews key figures like the CEO of Seedrs and UK boss of Peloton.
  3. Important news stories highlighted include weakening UK job market, Artifact app closing down, and Adidas CEO sharing his phone number with all staff for feedback.

Tell the beautiful truth, not the brutal truth

Jeff Giesea • 758 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Self-reflection Communication Leadership Wellness
  1. There's a difference between telling the beautiful truth and the brutal truth. Beautiful truth connects with people, while brutal truth can push them away.
  2. Being mindful of your intention when sharing truths is important. If your truth comes from a good place, it can really help others feel supported.
  3. It’s essential to be compassionate towards yourself when sharing truths. Treating yourself kindly makes it easier to extend that kindness to others.

The CTO's Silent Struggle

The CTO Substack • 279 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Communication Technology Career development
  1. Being technically correct isn't enough for a CTO. It's important to communicate effectively with the rest of the team to be truly understood.
  2. CTOs often feel unheard and frustrated, especially when their technical insights aren’t respected. They need to connect their concerns to the company's overall goals more clearly.
  3. Success as a CTO comes from focusing on team dynamics and collaboration rather than just being right. Building relationships and understanding others' perspectives is key.

The sound epistemics behind Boom's breaking of the sound barrier

Building the Builders • 7 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Startups Aerospace Leadership
  1. Blake Scholl started from scratch in the aerospace industry. He had no prior experience but was determined to learn everything necessary to build a supersonic jet.
  2. Instead of accepting common reasons why supersonic flight couldn't work, Blake researched thoroughly and found that many of those reasons were outdated or inaccurate.
  3. He embraced his confusion and used it as motivation to improve his understanding. Keeping a 'confusion list' helped him tackle and clarify tough concepts over time.
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Can you only talk to people within X IQ of your own?

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 1100 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🔬 Science IQ Communication Leadership
  1. The idea of a communication range suggests people find it hard to bond with those beyond a certain IQ difference.
  2. Evidence supporting this claim is weak and mostly anecdotal, lacking concrete data.
  3. People tend to cluster with others similar in intelligence, a phenomenon known as social homophily, which can affect relationships and social bonds.

👊🏽 A day for transitions ...

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar • 29 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Social justice Movements Advocacy Leadership
  1. After ten years, it's time to change and grow. The newsletter started as a way to connect with friends but evolved into discussing important social issues.
  2. Today is significant as it's MLK day, a reminder of the civil rights movement. MLK's legacy inspires action against ongoing inequality.
  3. The next few years are seen as a chance to build a strong movement for change. It's about creating solutions for those who have less and making a real impact.

The Biden-McCarthy Memorial Weekend Surrender Institutionalizes Stagflation

Peter Navarro's Taking Back Trump's America • 2044 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Government Economy Partisanship Leadership
  1. Historians may see Kevin McCarthy's quick surrender to Biden as a footnote in history, not a turning point.
  2. Biden's spending may lead to both demand-pull and cost-push inflation, similar to the stagflation of the 1970s.
  3. McCarthy missed a chance to assert America's energy dominance and combat inflation by caving to Biden's spending plans.

3 Ways To Thrive.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 25 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership Teamwork Strategy Organizational Culture Innovation
  1. Finding balance is important. It means weighing the old ways against new ideas to grow and adapt.
  2. Unity helps teams succeed. When everyone shares a common goal and works together, they can achieve more than just individual talents.
  3. Integration is about blending different perspectives. It means accepting and using diverse opinions and ideas to create strong solutions.

Grey's Law, The Republic, and You (Part 3)

Devon’s Substack • 119 implied HN points • 26 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Security Government Law Crisis Leadership
  1. The US Secret Service made serious mistakes during a security event, showing a lack of coordination and teamwork. It's essential for security teams to work well together to effectively handle threats.
  2. The personnel assigned for Trump's security were not a cohesive team. They were gathered from different sources and did not have experience working together, which compromised their effectiveness.
  3. In security and military contexts, having a trained, familiar team is crucial. If team members don't know each other, they can't operate as smoothly, which can lead to failures in protecting important individuals.

The Mental Characteristics of Resilient High Performers

Voohy Leadership Insights • 79 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
💼 Business Leadership Workplace Performance Development Psychology
  1. High performers tend to be positive and proactive. They actively look for challenges and always want to get better.
  2. Resilient people learn from tough experiences by reflecting on them. They see these moments as chances to grow.
  3. It's important to have a support system in place. High achievers feel they have good support from others, which helps them succeed.

Stand Alone

Becoming Noble • 1993 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Self-Discipline Leadership
  1. True leadership requires first mastering obedience to a higher law or authority.
  2. Obeying a divine and eternal law involves sacrificing personal desires, as emphasized in the concept of spiritual combat.
  3. Cultivating genuine strength and leadership in a world lacking strong figures necessitates embracing the challenges of spiritual warfare.

TBM 316: Ultra Founder Mode

The Beautiful Mess • 925 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Entrepreneurship Accountability Self-Improvement
  1. Ultra Founder Mode is all about taking raw honesty and owning up to your weaknesses. It's crucial to be really self-aware and willing to face hard truths about yourself and your work.
  2. In this mindset, you take full responsibility for everything—successes and failures. There’s no blaming others; you say 'I' messed up, and you own that weight fully.
  3. Being a leader means being deeply involved in your team's day-to-day struggles. You need to feel their pressures and grind alongside them, absorbing all the chaos without immediately trying to fix everything.

Accountability and Authority

In My Tribe • 683 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
💼 Business Management Bureaucracy Leadership Accountability Authority
  1. Clear job descriptions should state the authority and the accountability of a role. This helps everyone know who is responsible for what.
  2. Bureaucracy tends to make it hard to point fingers when something goes wrong. In businesses, leaders try to keep accountability clear, unlike in government.
  3. When people have less authority in their jobs, it's harder to hold them accountable for results. Finding the right balance is crucial for effectiveness.

The Musk-a16z administration

Alex's Personal Blog • 230 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Administration Policy Government Leadership
  1. Inflation is slowing down, which is good news, but there are still bumps to deal with. It makes it less of a worry than before.
  2. Elon Musk seems to have a big role in the Trump administration, influencing political decisions and interactions. His support is seen as a key factor in Trump's election success.
  3. Despite concerns about AI development hitting a wall, there is optimism from leaders like Sam Altman at OpenAI, indicating that progress continues.

The Hagakure #85: In The Trenches

The Hagakure • 61 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership Startups Entrepreneurship Management Technology
  1. The author recently took a new job as a startup CTO and is sharing his real experiences in this role. It's a change from coaching others to being hands-on again.
  2. He wants to provide honest insights about the challenges he faces instead of polished advice. It's about showing the true ups and downs of the job.
  3. The author invites readers to join him on this journey and share what they want to learn about being in a leadership position. It's a way to connect and engage with everyone interested.

Living Evil: Unearthed Bodies And Sacrificial Lambs

Richard Lewis • 1906 implied HN points • 17 May 23
💼 Business Ethics Leadership Management Work Environment Corporate culture
  1. Multiple reports of harassment and misconduct by key figures in the esports industry were brought to light, leading to their termination.
  2. New management at Evil Geniuses used past incidents involving employees as excuses to remove them, while also driving out senior employees who challenged their decisions.
  3. The company culture at Evil Geniuses shifted dramatically after the departure of senior staff, leading to a challenging and unbearable work environment.

Is your project on schedule? How do you know?

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
💼 Business Project management Leadership Team Dynamics Risk management
  1. To keep projects on track, it's essential to dig deep into details and understand all aspects involved. This helps find hidden issues before they become problems.
  2. Unexpected challenges will always arise, so having backup plans is crucial. It's better to prepare for potential setbacks than to face surprises later.
  3. Effective project estimates need thorough discussions and clear communication among all teams. This helps ensure everyone understands what needs to be done and avoids over-optimism.

Sacrifice

Becoming Noble • 1654 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Sacrifice Leadership Service Religion Community
  1. True leadership involves making radical sacrifices, setting an example for others to follow, and fostering a culture of self-sacrifice and service.
  2. Service is an integral part of leadership, and true faith leads to authentic sacrifices.
  3. Demanding and authentic leadership can inspire profound acts of service and energize people to make meaningful sacrifices.

Culture as a Driver of Success (or Failure)

peoplefirstengineering • 14 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Work Culture Organizational Behavior Team Dynamics 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.

6 Keys to Career Success.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 72 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
💼 Business Career development Leadership Mentorship Continuous Learning Networking
  1. Stay in tune with new trends and ideas so you can grow over time. It's important to see where things are heading and adjust your path accordingly.
  2. The people you work with matter a lot. Finding great mentors and leaders can help you learn and succeed more than just your job title.
  3. Keep learning and adapting. The job world changes fast, so staying curious and open to new experiences will keep you relevant.

DO TOO MUCH

Rational in the Fullness of Time • 312 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Entrepreneurship Management Innovation Growth
  1. Leaders need to go above and beyond in their efforts. Doing more can inspire others to care and work harder too.
  2. When achieving goals, over-communication and quick reactions can be more effective than waiting and planning too much.
  3. To create something meaningful, embrace the idea of doing too much. It's a part of pushing boundaries and achieving great things.

High-performance engineering managers

Elevate • 1113 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Data Analytics Training Employee engagement
  1. Effective managers have key traits that significantly impact employee performance, happiness, and retention, as proven by Google's Project Oxygen.
  2. Soft skills like coaching, communication, and support are more valued than technical expertise by employees, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in management.
  3. Using rigorous people analytics, organizations can identify and develop high-impact management behaviors specific to their unique culture, leading to improved leadership and employee satisfaction.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 33 - corporations are not for me

The ZIPster • 17 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Corporate culture Business Growth Leadership
  1. Starting a business can be tough, especially after facing failure. It's essential to learn and keep going, even when times are hard.
  2. CitNOW grew from a small team to a successful company that was recognized in the market. Hard work and determination can pay off.
  3. Working in a corporate environment can feel limited, and many find more fulfillment in creating and running their own businesses. It's about finding your own way.

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

The Leading Sapiens Weekly • 120 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Strategy Psychology Planning
  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.

Weekend Listening: The Real Team America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2026 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Defense Terrorism National Security Leadership
  1. There is growing concern over potential conflicts involving the U.S., China, Russia, and other nations, which could escalate into a global war.
  2. Many Americans, including influential figures like business leaders and journalists, are investing in innovative defense technologies to strengthen national security.
  3. Innovation in software is seen as crucial for modern defense, enabling the development of advanced weapon systems and vehicles with AI and autonomous capabilities.

Your complete guide to board rooms

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 276 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Management Finance Corporate Governance Startups Leadership
  1. Know who's in the room during board meetings. The CEO, CFO, and tech leaders each have specific roles and responsibilities that are crucial for a productive discussion.
  2. Keep your board meetings under 3.5 hours. Long meetings can tire everyone out, so aim for a focused agenda that encourages valuable input from all members.
  3. Send out materials for the meeting 48 to 72 hours in advance. This allows everyone to prepare without being overwhelmed, and it helps keep the meeting on track.

Trump. Again. The Question Is Why?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2068 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Parties Leadership Public Opinion Campaigns
  1. Donald Trump remains a prominent figure in the political landscape, commanding attention from both supporters and critics.
  2. Trump has been successful in recent Republican caucus victories and is gaining significant support within the party.
  3. He is currently polling well and leads President Biden in various public opinion surveys.

The Difference Between Republicans And Democrats

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1788 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Parties Policies Imperialism Leadership Criticism
  1. The difference between Republicans and Democrats lies in how they are perceived when supporting or backing certain actions - Republicans are seen as evil with evil reasons, while Democrats are viewed as having noble humanitarian reasons in spite of their actions.
  2. Republicans and Democrats differ in the ways they support certain agendas - Republicans use right-wing language to argue, while Democrats use left-wing language, even as they support wars, militarism, capitalism, and oppression.
  3. Republicans and Democrats vary in their approach towards global conflicts and issues - Republicans tend towards wars with China, while Democrats lean towards conflicts with Russia; they also differ in the perceptions of civilian casualties during their administrations.

Using fake deadlines without driving your engineers crazy

Leading Developers • 98 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Productivity Engineering Workplace
  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.

There's a whole lot of ugly out there when it comes to growth teams.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 904 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing Management Growth Finance Leadership
  1. The growth teams face systematic failures in the industry due to various issues like unclear growth fundamentals and bad strategic decisions from executives.
  2. Symptoms of a bad growth team include not focusing on monetization, neglecting retention, and obsessing over 'hacks' instead of building sustainable growth engines.
  3. To build a successful growth team, companies need to prioritize monetization, retention, and data-driven decision-making, and ensure alignment between departments for optimal results.

I, for one, am opposed to monarchy

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Elections Legislation 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.

TBM 326: Adhocracies and Bureaucracies

The Beautiful Mess • 489 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Organizational Behavior Corporate culture Leadership Management Practices Process Improvement
  1. Rapid-growth tech companies often start as adhocracies where everyone works quickly and independently. But as they grow, they can develop unspoken rules that make things complicated.
  2. Larger companies tend to have strict bureaucracies with many rules that can slow everything down. When they try to change, they often need to untangle these rules and make things simpler.
  3. Leaders often try to eliminate bureaucracy, but this can lead to even more hidden rules. It’s important for teams to talk openly about processes to solve problems effectively.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (7/22)

Human Capitalist • 159 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
💼 Business Job Market Career Changes Corporate strategy Workforce Insights Leadership
  1. Many people changed jobs recently, including key leaders in companies like DoorDash and PepsiCo. These moves can show new strategies that companies might adopt.
  2. Some job changes could lead to interesting collaboration opportunities. For example, leaders moving to new companies might team up for projects that benefit both.
  3. Keeping an eye on job changes can help people understand market trends and potential shifts in industries. Knowing who is moving can help you anticipate business developments.