Vignettes

Whenever a conversation goes too far or too deep, it goes down the “rabbit hole.” I’ve heard “Rat hole” recently, but that’s just laziness. The Rabbit hole trope has been used since the mid-1800s, and it’s time to retire it. In mixed audiences of generalists and specialists or mixed-levels (such as Executives and Individual contributors), there is value in keeping a subject to a higher level. There are also appropriate times to “geek out.” Either way, save the bunnies.

Learning: Keep rabbits out of it.

If you haven’t seen Arnold Schwarzenegger’s non-blockbuster classic Commando, you need to stop everything and watch it—or put it somewhere in your queue. It’s best known for using the same extras, which results in the same people dying repeatedly throughout the film. It’s just fun that way.

There is a point here. And it’s the idea of Commander’s Intent. This military term combines strategic direction with the freedom to act. I have long admired this style as it lays out the objective and “mission” parameters and provides the necessary autonomy to the assigned team in the field.

For more insights, pick up the following books:

• Alex Shootman’s “Done Right”
• Jocko Willink’s “Extreme Ownership”

Learning: The concept of Commander’s Intent illustrates the blend of strategic direction and operational freedom without over-managing every detail.

Have you leveraged Commander’s Intent? Has it worked for you? We’d love to know your experience.

We’ve all met people who think they don’t have any flaws – not a single weakness. (Or at least, they don’t project any weakness). And we’ve all met people who don’t see how solid they are – how powerful they could be. But only if they knew. I’ve never actually heard of Clifton’s Strength Finder not finding some strengths in people, but the key to Strengths Finder is to focus on people’s Strengths. This can be a potent tool for those who need to hear it.

Learning: Strength Finder is an excellent exercise for a team, but it should not overshadow improvement in all areas.

Does this resonate with you? What are your thoughts on Strengths Finder? We’d love to hear from you.