Distinctions That Matter
I have always been intrigued by the phrase, “a distinction without a difference.” I think it interests me because we tend many times to make big deals out of minor distinctions when there truly is no difference in what we are saying. The phrase “a distinction without a difference” reminds us that some differences may be superficial, irrelevant, or just semantics. Leaders should focus on genuine distinctions that drive progress, understanding that clarity and significance are crucial for effective decision-making and communication within our teams. Making distinctions that do not result in meaningful changes or improvements can lead to confusion and inefficiency.
While contemplating this post I thought about a quote from John McCarthy: “Hard distinctions make bad philosophy.” When studying McCarthy in my Oxford AI course I was fascinated by his suggestion that binary or strict classifications may overlook the complexities and nuances of reality. McCarthy’s philosophies encouraged a more flexible and thoughtful approach to distinguishing concepts, allowing for the shades of gray that often exist in complex ideas and real-life situations. In essence, he was calling for intellectual humility and an acknowledgment that life and thought cannot always be neatly categorized.
Don’t Get Bored!
I’m a huge Candace Parker fan and have followed her career. She is an incredible leader and role model. I now love to listen to her comments as a studio analyst for CBS/TNT Sports. In a discussion about the Michigan State/Bryant game she was complimenting Tom Izzo and how it had to bring his players a great deal of confidence that their coach had been in the NCAA tournament so many times. Izzo, she pointed out, has seen almost all possible scenarios play out. We a lot of times forget how great a coach he is and how great a program that is. As a Purdue guy that was hard for me to say. She then talked about how so often we fall in love with something and then we get bored. I interpreted this as a reflection on how people often become enamored with something new, such as a relationship, a career, or a passion, only to lose interest over time.
This sentiment suggests that the initial excitement and allure can fade, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction or boredom. In the context of sports or personal pursuits, it may imply that while the thrill and joy of participating or competing can be overwhelming at first, the ongoing demands and challenges can lead to a lack of engagement if one doesn’t find ways to maintain that spark. It encourages individuals to seek continuous growth and renewal rather than relying solely on the initial passion to sustain our interest.
Seeing The Leadership Blind Spots
I have written and posted about ‘blind spots’ before in Overcoming Hidden Challenges in Leadership, Why You Should Read “What Are Your Blind Spots?”, and The Blind Spots Identified. Then yesterday I heard the phrase, “Overconfidence creates blind spots.” That creates an entirely new train of thought. As leaders we need to be aware that overconfidence can lead to a lack of awareness regarding potential risks and challenges.
This was a good reminder of the risks of excessive self-assurance. We must remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Overconfidence may cause us to dismiss valuable input from others, leading to missed opportunities for improvement. We need to be careful of overconfidence leading to confirmation bias, where we begin seeking out information that supports our own beliefs while disregarding evidence that contradicts them. This further entrenches our blind spots, as we may not actively seek diverse viewpoints or consider the full range of possibilities.
We need to be careful not to ignore feedback, dismiss others’ input, or fail to recognize potential risks. Further mitigation of the blind spots would be to cultivate humility, encourage open dialogue, and foster a community where questioning and constructive criticism are welcomed.
Leading Like A Seeker
Do you ever feel like the thrill of the chase is more exciting than the destination itself? I got to thinking about this today after a meeting when a friend called me a ‘seeker.’ I asked what she meant. She explained, “You’re a ‘seeker.’ Once you find the next thing, it’s time to look for the next.” I guess this would be one way to describe me and many others I know, that is tied to our curiosity and the human tendency to want to grow and evolve. Sometimes I do experience that fleeting sense of satisfaction when the next thing I’ve been seeking has been achieved, which then leads to the desire to seek something new or different.
As a a ‘seeker’ I do actively search for knowledge, understanding, or truth. Seekers are often curious individuals who explore various aspects of life, including spiritual beliefs, personal growth, and new experiences. We tend to ask questions, challenge the status quo, and seek deeper insights beyond the surface level. What believe we all need to remember, however, is to keep the things we are seeking congruent to our purpose. Our purpose creates the difference between lasting joy and feeling unfulfilled.
We seekers have a desire for knowledge, understanding, and personal growth. Being a seeker needs to be about balance. It’s important to stay grounded while exploring and to recognize when we might need to pause and reflect rather than constantly search.
Discovering Possibilities Not Yet Considered
How about this for a super cool thought? “We must stay flexible or we become blind to the possibilities.” Think about it. If we become too rigid in our thinking, routines, or beliefs, we may miss out on new opportunities and experiences. Being open-minded and agile helps us adapt to change and embrace new ideas or paths that could lead to growth, creativity, innovation, and connection.
Remaining open-minded enables us to explore different perspectives and solutions, whether in personal relationships, career choices, or life challenges. When I ponder all the possibilities out there that I’ve not even begun to think about it staggers the mind. That is why we must open our minds and be prepared to discover possibilities not yet considered.
Memories Cannot Love Us Back
It always amazes me how caught up in repeat episodes of Yellowstone I get when flipping through shows on television. I always have to stop and watch and I always pick up on something new. This past weekend I joined Yellowstone when a conversation between Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and her father John Dutton (Kevin Costner) was going on. Beth asked her dad why he was up so early in the morning. He answered that he liked to reflect at the beginning of the day. As a reflective person, I could relate to this. Beth told him to just remember that, “You can love a memory all you want but it can’t love you back.” She was reminding him to recognize the difference between living in the past and engaging with the present and future.
While we can cherish and hold onto our memories—whether they are of people, places, or experiences—those memories themselves are static and cannot reciprocate our feelings. I’m not sure I had ever thought about that before. We must remain aware that nostalgia and longing for the past can be powerful, but they don’t provide the emotional support or connection we often seek in our present lives.
I have a lot of fond memories that I reflect on and this was a great reminder that we must not get too caught up in those memories. We must not let those memories allow us to fail to seek relationships and experiences that bring us joy in the here and now, rather than getting so lost in reflecting the on things that cannot fulfill our emotional needs. The key here, I believe, is to keep making memories!
Don’t ‘Should Have’ Yourself
In a conversation yesterday I was reminded of something my dad used to tell me. He would always say, “You can ‘should have’ yourself 100 different ways.” He would always continue with, “I’m not going to ‘should have’ you and I’m not going to let you do it to yourself.” By not wanting me to ‘should have’ myself, my dad wanted me refraining from placing unrealistic expectations or judgments on my past actions or decisions. He was a keep moving forward kind of guy and I’m blessed to have had him teach me that.
We always need to do our best so we can acknowledge that we did the best we could with the information and resources we had at the time. Instead of engaging in self-blame or regret, we should focus on learning from our experiences and moving forward. This mindset encourages self-compassion and helps us cultivate a more positive outlook on our personal growth.
Leading The Enormity & Simplicity Of Change
Of change, Machiavelli told us, “It must be be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, not more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.” Change is ever present, and is a source of value and risk. Recognizing that change is not easy allows us to prepare and strategize for the obstacles we may face.
We were introduced to another thought on change by Astrid. Astrid is a character in Rob Hart’s great book Assassin Anonymous and at the end of the book she said: “And the enormity of what it means to decide you want to change. Both the impossibility and the simplicity of it.” This thought captures the dual nature of change—how it can feel overwhelming and straightforward at the same time. On one hand, the enormity of deciding to change implies recognizing the challenges, fears, and uncertainties that come with stepping out of one’s comfort zone. It suggests that change often feels monumental, as it can require significant effort, sacrifice, and a willingness to confront difficult truths about oneself or one’s situation.
It’s important to view change as both a daunting journey and a straightforward choice. Balancing these two perspectives can help us navigate the process with greater resilience. Understanding that change begins with a decision can empower us. We don’t need a perfect plan; just taking that first step can be enough.
Do Not Let Eventually Turn Into Too Late
Yesterday when I was finishing reading Rob Hart’s great book, Assassins Anonymous, the protagonist, Mark, had a thought that gave me pause. Mark, who was the world’s best assassin and trying to get out of the business through Assassins Anonymous, was reflecting on the death of his sponsor, Kenji. Kenji was Mark’s rock and Mark was reflecting that he had not fully expressed his appreciation to Kenji. He pondered that, “Eventually turned into too late.” His regret of not telling Kenji all he wanted to highlights a sense of urgency and the consequences of inaction—what could have been addressed in time ended up being too late for effective resolution.
We need to remember that situations will progress to points where it becomes impossible to take the necessary actions or make the needed changes. This scene in the book reminded me that there are opportunities or windows of time that are available the important things we need to do, but as time goes on without action, those opportunities slip away. I want to make sure I don’t push things to eventually and then realize it’s too late.
What Is The Team You Are Supposed To Be?
Last night I watched the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 115-114. During the American Express Halftime Report on TNT, Shaquille O’Neal made a great comment directed at the Bucks: “Be the team you are supposed to be.” Shaquille’s message that he said he would give to the Bucks was to focus on their strengths, trust in their abilities, and work cohesively as a unit to achieve success. It’s about living up to the expectations that come with their individual player’s skills, talent, and hard work. The importance of each player playing to their potential and capabilities and then working cohesively as a team to achieve success.
Today, I am working with a team of educators at a Focused Leader Academy. I could not help but start the gathering with the prompt: “Last night, Shaquille O’Neal made a great comment directed at the Milwaukee Bucks: ‘Be the team you are supposed to be.’ In context of your team here at school, what would that comment mean to you?” Here are some of their responses:
- Play my role
- Pull my weight and support others
- Student, teacher, administrator support team
- Lead by example
- Serve our stakeholders
- Communicate and collaborate
- Do my job the way it is supposed to be done
- Gifts and talents are identified
- Public perception and reputation based on what the best data suggests
- Collaboration inside / competition outside
- Expect what we inspect
As you can imagine this prompted a great discussion, but it came down to that O’Neal was encouraging every member of the team to do what they were put on the team to do. This emphasized my strong belief in well defined roles and responsibilities. And when those roles and responsibilities are well defined we are better equipped to move out of our own lane occasionally to help others.
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