Adopting a 'growth mindset' sounds fancy and fun, but it is very uncomfortable. It requires a great deal of self-reflection, the ability to admit where you have gone wrong and to find new ways to become the best leader you can be. Getting into the habit of these behaviors sucks at first, but it pays off every time.
Life is short and we only get one shot at it. Building a business is certainly more than a job, but it is not the only thing that counts in this experience. My main goal when it comes to balance is to never get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that I start to crave time away from it all. Balance is restored as long as I enjoy the work I'm doing.
There is a common belief that when you are hired you are supposed to adapt to the culture of the company. I don't believe that to be true. I think a corporate culture should be built around individual skills, personalities and preferences (e.g. preferred ways of communicating, working environment, etc.) to allow for maximum authenticity in the workplace. Everyone should feel that they are able to become the best version of themselves in this environment. This will lead to psychological safety and trust, and is therefore the basis for a high performing organisation.
I never really wanted to be an entrepreneur. But after working in management consultancy for a few years, it dawned on me that if we were going to fix our economy, we needed to step up and do it ourselves, rather than complain from the sidelines. I want a profitable business that gives people meaningful work without destroying the planet — how hard can that be?
The two most important factors that need to be developed in any team or organisation are psychological safety and trust. Psychological safety focuses on the actions we are willing to take, whereas trust focuses on the actions others will take. Without them there will be no empowerment, e2e ownership and successful collaboration, and thus no risk taking, innovation, fast/agile processes and high performance execution.
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I like asking, "What can I learn from this experience?" This question helps me reflect on challenges and successes, fostering continuous improvement and a mindset of growth and learning.
“Lead by ideas, not by hierarchy.” The “position” of a person has nothing to do with the ability to contribute great ideas to improve the company. You should always strive for a company culture where everybody can talk to everybody.
Understanding that you cannot control the decisions other people make, you can only influence and inform them. Not every deal or decision will go your way and this mindset helps avoid self-loathing, anger, and depression.
Understanding the 80/20 principle or even 64/4 and that it's a law of nature applicable everywhere. It's one of the biggest levers for doing more with less or in less time. (E.g. 20% of the streets in the world handle 80% of the traffic.)