Rebels at Work Keep it Real--newsletter
A brief thought about Ukraine
The planet on which we circle the sun every 365 (and a quarter) days is not having a smooth time of it. It’s impossible to write about Ukraine without somehow taking advantage of and minimizing the suffering of millions of other people just to make some rhetorical points. So let’s keep the observations brief.
How you carry yourself when you are in a leadership position really matters. You can be the leader of a nation or of an informal alliance of rebels, but people will respond to the signals you send with every action you take, conscious or subconscious.
Unity of purpose is powerful. People tend to know the right thing to do when they’re united behind a common cause. Often the most useful thing leaders can do is just get out of the way.
Tell your story in a compelling way, in a real way, and in a manner that resonates not just with how your audience thinks, but with the way it feels.
A book we recommend:
Practical, helpful recommendations for Rebels, grounded in research, written with humanity. Highly recommend "The Art of Insubordination” by Todd Kashdan.
A podcast we recommend:
Carmen was interviewed recently for the podcast “Why Lead Others” by Tanzanian Ben Owden. Here’s an excerpt:
…one of the things…that is problematic for Rebels at Work and organizational heretics is that meaningful change takes time. Attempting to do it very quickly, without regard to all the human emotions involved and…the practical necessities, {are} bound to lead, I think, to catastrophe. One of the truths I’ve discovered is when…you’re a heretic you spend a lot of time talking about your vision and your end goal {even when} everyone {already} agrees with your vision. What they are opposed to is all the interruptions that will occur. Rebels and heretics spend way more time {talking} about their vision and goals and not enough time about the practicality of making the change.
It was great to talk to an upcoming leader in sub-Saharan Africa. We in the West don’t think enough about how much the future of our planet depends upon the success and prosperity of countries such as Tanzania. By the end of this century, almost half of the planet’s young people will be African. Success will depend upon collaboration, community, wise leadership, and probably even wiser rebels.
You can listen to the podcast here or on your favorite podcast platform.
Some readings we recommend:
Rishad Tobaccowala wrote a beautiful blog post last month on the importance of generosity. Generosity is not just the mark of good character, it is also a strategic tool that opens up new opportunities and strengthens relationships.
Check out this quick read from Fast Company questioning whether we still need managers. Managers are identified as the number 1 contributors to toxic work cultures. This doesn’t need to be the case. Managers are people too (!!!) and can demonstrate empathy in the workplace. Unfortunately a recent Gartner survey showed that only 47% of managers feel they are prepared to lead with empathy.
Word of caution: Don’t think that this dynamic doesn’t apply to Rebels at Work. We often find ourselves informally leading coalitions in the workplace. Doing so with empathy and emotional intelligence will take you much further than the alternative.
And we enjoyed learning that the best employees curse, slack off, and aren’t afraid to wear sweatpants. We immediately felt better about ourselves.
Upcoming Event:
Carmen will be speaking at the OPTIMA 22 event in Boston this April.
The sponsors are offering a discount for those who might be interested in attending. Here’s a link for our readers.