The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

CEOs on Their Least Popular But Most Impactful Decisions

The Generalist • 900 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Decision-making Company Building Customer Relations Team Management
  1. Great leadership requires making tough decisions that go against popular opinion.
  2. CEOs must prioritize what's best for the long-term success of their company, even if it means making unpopular choices.
  3. Building a successful company often means making difficult decisions that may challenge the norms and expectations of others.
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The 20 Year Fall of Japan's Sharp Corporation

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1692 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Technology Leadership Finance Manufacturing Acquisition
  1. Sharp Corporation, a giant in consumer electronics, faced a 20-year decline due to reliance on the challenging LCD panel business.
  2. Founder Tokuji Hayakawa's journey from a young apprentice to creating iconic products like the Hayakawa Mechanical Pencil and Sharp radios.
  3. Sharp's move towards LCD technology led to financial strain, intense competition, and ultimately being acquired by Foxconn in 2016, marking the first foreign takeover of a major Japanese electronics firm.

Lessons from Keith Drury's Cadre

DruGroup • 79 implied HN points • 25 Jun 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Leadership Mentorship Community Spiritual growth Learning
  1. It's important to choose a special group of leaders to invest in. When you invite them to be part of a select group, it makes them feel valued and noticed.
  2. Regular communication with your selected group helps them feel included and keeps them engaged. Sharing valuable insights can strengthen your connection with them.
  3. Connecting your leaders with each other can create new opportunities. They can work together and support each other in ways they might not have expected.

How to Save a $70B Business We Don't Know What To Do With

The Ankler • 353 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Entertainment Technology Finance Industry Leadership
  1. The movie industry is facing challenges due to poor decision-making and leadership, which is threatening its survival.
  2. Hollywood should focus on creating hits to attract audiences and regain financial stability.
  3. Instead of blaming streamers, the film industry needs to adapt and overcome bad habits and thought patterns to thrive.

Delusion

Venture Prose • 698 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Self-awareness Startups Leadership
  1. Self-awareness is crucial to avoid delusion. Recognize your failures, flaws, and biases to make better decisions.
  2. Surround yourself with the right people who can provide constructive criticism. Be open to inner and outer conflicts to improve.
  3. Ask for clear feedback and address concerns about your business. Work towards understanding and extracting value from others' perspectives.

New Episode! #24 - Samo Burja - How to Prevent Civilizational Collapse

Win-Win • 79 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🎙 Podcasts Geopolitics History Leadership Bureaucracy Governance
  1. Bureaucratic growth can weaken institutions and slow down decision-making. It's important to streamline and maintain efficiency in governance.
  2. Understanding the difference between tacit (unspoken) and explicit (clearly defined) knowledge is crucial for effective organization and leadership.
  3. Different systems of governance, like democracy and monarchy, have their own strengths and weaknesses that can impact how societies function.

How to grow from a mid-level to senior Data Engineer

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 694 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Software Engineering Learning Teamwork Leadership
  1. To grow from mid to senior level, it's important to continuously learn and improve, share new knowledge, work on code improvements, and become an expert in a certain domain.
  2. Making the team better is crucial - focus on mentoring, sharing knowledge, and creating a positive team environment. Think beyond individual tasks to impact the overall team outcomes.
  3. Seniority includes building not just technical solutions, but solutions that customers love. Challenge requirements, understand the business and product, and take initiative in problem-solving.

A Dangerous Fifth-String Evangelical Republican Speaker

SHERO • 609 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Conservatism Elections Legal Leadership
  1. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected as the new House Speaker, despite being the Republican Party's fifth choice.
  2. The smooth voting process didn't reflect the turmoil within the GOP over leadership.
  3. Mike Johnson's savvy background in Constitutional Law and support for Trump's election stance played key roles in his rise to House Speaker.

Design Leaders Should Go “Founder Mode”

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 69 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🪑 Design UX Design Leadership Product Development Team Dynamics
  1. Design leaders should adopt a hands-on, founder-like approach rather than climbing traditional corporate ladders. This allows for more effective and quick decision-making.
  2. AI can greatly boost productivity in design teams, allowing smaller teams to achieve results that used to require larger departments. This leads to flatter organizational structures.
  3. Being a leader in design today means having a clear vision for the team's success and making sure that vision fits well with the rest of the organization.

TBM 273: Transition and Reflection

The Beautiful Mess • 1057 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Workplace dynamics
  1. Humans shape environments, and environments shape humans -- there's no dichotomy. This insight helps in understanding complexity and progress.
  2. Self-awareness and understanding others' beliefs are crucial at work -- it minimizes clashes and can lead to better teamwork and company growth.
  3. Seek coherence across different areas of work -- aligning various frames and systems is essential for company success.

Getting exec buy-in for developer productivity initiatives

Engineering Enablement • 14 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
💼 Business Leadership Productivity Investment Metrics Competition
  1. Focus on the specific needs of leaders. Show how your ideas can solve their biggest issues to get their support.
  2. Talk about money. Explain how improving developer productivity can directly impact profits and save costs.
  3. Create a sense of competition. Use benchmarks to show how the organization compares to others, making leaders want to improve.

Practical Advice for a Better You

Anima Mundi • 20 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🚌 Education Personal Growth Decision-making Productivity Leadership Learning Strategies
  1. When making a decision, find one strong reason for it. If you can’t identify a solid reason, reconsider your choice.
  2. Focusing on one task at a time leads to better results than multitasking. It reduces stress and improves the quality of your work.
  3. Look for people who show potential and the ability to learn quickly rather than just those with experience. They can surprise you with their growth.

A survey of CTOs: how flat should your organization be?

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
💼 Business Leadership Organization Management Startups Technology
  1. A flat organization isn't always the best setup. Some structure is needed as a company grows to help manage teams effectively.
  2. Having the right number of managers is important. Too few can lead to problems, while a good balance helps ensure teams are supported and guided properly.
  3. Leaders should focus on being leaders, not just doing tasks. Their main role is to manage and support their teams, not pull all-nighters coding.

Capitalism that works

Japan Optimist • 314 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
💼 Business Economics Innovation Leadership Sustainability
  1. Japan is considered a potential economic superpower and role model
  2. Japan's social resilience, political stability, corporate competitiveness, technocratic pragmatism, and private sector innovation are seen as strengths
  3. Japan's demographic destiny is viewed as a positive force for next-generation leaders, citizens, and the rising Asian middle class

An article on Xi Jinping's fondness for culture

Ginger River Review • 314 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Cultural heritage Leadership
  1. Xi Jinping's upbringing and early experiences shaped his strong emphasis on Chinese culture and traditional values.
  2. Xi Jinping's leadership is characterized by a deep commitment to preserving cultural heritage, promoting innovation, and fostering common prosperity.
  3. Xi Jinping's global initiatives aim to build a community of shared future, demonstrating a leadership approach rooted in maintaining peace, cooperation, and respect for diverse civilizations.

When Did Trump Change His Mind about Lockdowns?

COVID Reason • 1447 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Policy Elections Pandemic response Public Health
  1. Trump initially agreed to nationwide lockdowns in March 2020 due to influence from key advisors like Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci.
  2. Trump's stance on lockdowns shifted over time, with him expressing desire to reopen by Easter 2020 but eventually extending lockdowns beyond that.
  3. Despite expressing some willingness to reopen, Trump ultimately stood by lockdown measures and criticized governors who attempted to ease restrictions.

Blinken Is Failing the Test

Eunomia • 353 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Foreign Policy
  1. The idea of Blinken providing a reassuring projection of American leadership is not credible.
  2. Morale in the State Department is low under Blinken compared to previous administrations.
  3. State Department experts are being ignored as Biden and Blinken drive U.S. policy in a negative direction.

Biden Is No Longer Fit For Office

Yascha Mounk • 59 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Leadership Public Opinion Media Analysis Political Commentary
  1. Joe Biden seems to be struggling with serious mental issues, which was clearly shown during a recent debate. It's noticeable that he has moments when he is confused or loses his train of thought.
  2. Many people, including those in the media, are now openly saying that Biden should step down. However, instead of just focusing on his age, they should also recognize the real reasons why he may not be suited to continue as president.
  3. Biden stepping down could allow for a more capable leader to guide the country, especially in critical situations. It's important to have someone in charge who can make tough decisions quickly and effectively.

Manmohan Singh: India's Finest Talent Scout

Get Down and Shruti • 13 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Economics Policy Mentorship Reforms Government
  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.

Why the Trump/Musk partnership is taking off

Unreported Truths • 82 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political strategy Public Opinion Government 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.

TBM 269: Three Organizational Design Principles

The Beautiful Mess • 1057 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
💼 Business Organizational Design Collaboration Leadership Management Complexity
  1. Hierarchical Collaboration Parity is crucial for success in organizations - leaders need to collaborate as much as front-line team members.
  2. Alignment and Work Style Gaps need to be addressed to improve team effectiveness.
  3. Organizations must confront deep-seated tensions, or 'Elephants in the Room', to prevent adverse outcomes and stress on teams.

Looking for problems instead of solutions

Sunday Letters • 99 implied HN points • 27 May 24
💼 Business Mindset Problem Solving Teamwork Leadership Productivity
  1. It's important to focus on solutions rather than just identifying problems. Always looking for issues can slow down progress and creativity.
  2. Effective people know when to take action, even if they don't have all the details. It's okay to jump into something and learn as you go.
  3. When you have concerns, think about whether they are relevant now or just distractions. Finding solutions should be your priority to keep moving forward.

How Leaders Can Make the Open Door Policy, Inclusive

Thinking Through • 750 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership Diversity Inclusion Teamwork Psychological safety
  1. Two things must be true for someone to take advantage of an open-door policy: self-confidence and psychological safety.
  2. Psychological safety in a team means feeling okay to take risks, express ideas, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of negative consequences.
  3. To build a psychologically safe environment, leaders can practice candidness, sharing mistakes, inclusive language, encouraging team input, and teaching team members to grow.

Engineering management in the next unicorn app

Leading Developers • 65 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
💼 Business Startup Management Leadership Remote work Product Development
  1. A great remote team relies on hiring independent and motivated people. This way, there's less need for management and everyone takes ownership of their work.
  2. Launching a product takes time and patience. It's important to experiment and iterate rather than rushing to get features out.
  3. Growing a startup doesn't mean you have to hire a lot of new people right away. Instead, focus on what the market needs before expanding your team.

Forget coalitions. Keir Starmer is heading for a landslide

Inside-Out, political commentary from Philip Stephens • 569 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Elections Government Policy Parties Leadership
  1. Keir Starmer is predicted to win the British election and may need to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
  2. Britain is facing economic decline, breakdown in public services, and a Tory party more focused on internal conflicts than governance.
  3. Voters are disillusioned with the Conservatives due to failed promises, lack of delivery in public services, and divisive cultural wars.

How to turn those Big Ideas of yours into reality

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 15 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Coaching Leadership Strategy Personal Development
  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.

Flex your color

Wednesday Wisdom • 66 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Personal Development Team Dynamics Psychology
  1. Understanding different personality types can help improve teamwork. People have different working styles, and recognizing these can enhance collaboration.
  2. The True Colors personality model categorizes people into four colors based on their traits. Each color represents different strengths and weaknesses, which can help individuals understand themselves and others better.
  3. Being aware of your default behavior allows you to adapt to different situations. Flexing your personality traits based on the needs of the moment can lead to better leadership and decision-making.

CEO of Gig-work Surveillance Firm Resigns

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 752 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
💼 Business Tech Surveillance Leadership Finance Legal
  1. CEO of Gig-work Surveillance Firm, Maury Blackman, resigned after years of court battles and exposure of clandestine surveillance.
  2. Premise Data, an analogue of Uber for data-gathering, faced revenue stagnation despite investments and high-profile board members.
  3. Blackman's resignation led to Matt McNabb taking over as CEO, revealing a history of controversial events and legal issues within Premise.