Haltung Archive - Page 2 of 27 - The Art of Communicating

The only one

Right now, nothing is more important than you.
That’s the feeling that great communicators will give you.

Not only in 1:1 conversations, but also on the stage and even in their writing.

Right now, nothing is more important than you.

Which is not to be confused with:
“Never is anything more important.”

But right in this moment, nothing is.

These people let us forget that
-> they are just as busy as we are (if not more),
-> that they juggle just as many balls as we do (if not more),
-> that their day sucked big time and their lunch break is already one hour late (if not more).

But right now, none of that matters.

They are super busy. And yet, in this moment, they are fully present.

They don’t necessarily leave everything aside for us. We’re not the center of their focus all the time. They might not even have much time for us. But when they do, they’re fully committed and present in the moment.

Sometimes, you could even say that the feeling is not so much one of being the most important person in their world right now. It almost feels like you’re the only one that matters.

How focussed are you on the person you are talking to?

Gettin’ in the groove

“Good job,” the leader declares as the team meeting disperses.

The team members file out with a quiet that speaks volumes, another routine meeting has ended. Efficient in its execution, but lacking groove.

Groove – that hard to describe feeling that infuses energy and passion into the mundane. The element which turns a group of individuals into a dynamic team that dances to the rhythm of a common beat.

In its place was a mechanical march of agenda items.

The meeting had structure, it had purpose, but it lacked the soulful harmony of groove – the lightness, the drive that turns work into something more.

Contrast this with a different meeting. Imagine a space alive with the buzz of collaboration, where ideas are volleyed with the excitement of a well-played game. The leader in such a meeting is more a conductor than a commander, guiding the rhythm but allowing each member to play their unique part.

In a meeting with groove, the air crackles with the energy of possibility. Team members lean in, not back. They speak not just to relay information, but to contribute to a collective melody. Challenges are met not with resignation, but with the enthusiasm of problem-solvers in their element. And when the meeting concludes, it’s not with the emptiness of a routine farewell, but with the satisfaction of a song well sung, a job well done together.

The contrast is stark – on one hand, a meeting that ticks boxes but leaves spirits untouched; on the other, a gathering that moves beyond mere efficiency to resonate on a deeper, more meaningful level. In the end, it’s just a subtle difference, call it groove or energy or whatever you like, but it made a huge difference.

Efficiency creates relevance, but not always resonance.

In the absence of emotion, even the best-laid plans are just words in a room, echoing without a heart to hear them.

How about you? Have you ever experienced groove in a meeting?

Your unique personality

For much of the last century, management theory was about ironing out human personalities.

It was focused on standardizing processes, reducing variability, and treating human resources as just another cog in the machine.

In order to increase efficiency and predictability, the idea was to minimize the impact of individual human traits and personalities on the work process and create a more uniform and controllable environment.

Of course, from that perspective the best human is no human. Which is why, over time, most of these jobs have been and will continue to be taken over by machines (which increasingly means AI).

That’s probably one of the reasons why we’ve seen a decisive shift in contemporary perspectives that emphasize the value of human creativity, emotional intelligence, and individuality. This shift aligns with a broader recognition that employee well-being and personal development are crucial to organizational success.

Modern management and leadership theories often focus on empowering individuals, fostering innovation, and creating a more human-centric work environment.

It’s built on the belief that while machines and AI can handle many tasks that humans used to perform, there are certain qualities – like empathy, creativity, and moral judgement – that are distinctly human and invaluable in the workplace.

And yet, people are regularly surprised to see some of these categories disappear. What used to be “distinctly human” is suddenly AI territory.

I think that’s because it’s often a lazy argument. We all think we know what “distinctly human” really means, but do you?

Can you articulate it?

In a way that your team sees what it means for them to be distinctly human?

In a way that you and your team can leverage it to make an even bigger impact for your customers?

The irony here is that those who consciously and rigorously tackle those questions, will likely see superior results on both fronts: They can wholeheartedly embrace the human strengths. And they can wholeheartedly embrace AI to replace everything else.

What are your thoughts on what “distinctly human” really means?

An extra day for something new

Imagine you’re given a bonus day this year. But there’s a catch: To claim this extra day, you must dedicate it to doing something you’ve never done before or have always wanted to try.

Maybe it’s learning a new skill or exploring a place you’ve never been before, perhaps you agree to your first keynote speech or even take the first step towards a dream you’ve been putting off.

What would you choose to do with this day?

PS: 2024 is a leap year. So, what are you going to do with the bonus day?

Shifts in leadership

You certainly know the famous drawing that contrasts leaders and bosses. While the boss commands from the command stand (i.e. his desk), the leader leads by going first (and eating last).

But the most effective leaders I’ve met don’t actually lead like this. They understand that they often aren’t the smartest, bravest, or toughest person in the team. Which is why they leave these spots to those who are. Rather than leading the way, they light the path so that the team moves in the same direction with a collective effort – as a group … and more decisive than anyone could on their own.

It’s a third way that’s both unlike a boss who could always rely on their authority to force a decision, no need to justify anything (“We go where I say we go”). And also unlike a leader who leads the way who could always rely on their ambition and confidence, no need to justify anything (“We go where I go”).

A leader who lights the path is different. They make it obvious how choices are made and then they trust the team with making these choices. Which means that they do need to justify where the team’s headed, why it’s gotta be there, and why it’s gotta be us (“We go where it makes most sense to go”).

Their tools are empathy, truth, and trust. They listen, they ask questions, and they tap into the brilliance of everyone on the team.

Which shifts are you observing in leadership?

Thanks!

For extending a helping hand when you needed help yourself.

For lending an ear even though you had urgent stuff to do.

For asking the painful question that made a difference.

For going the extra mile when no one noticed.

For being a constant in a year of change.

For being kind when times were tough.

For being you.

===

Wishing you a great day with your loved ones.  Thanks for reading!

Being present

Here’s a gift that’s guaranteed to still arrive in time: being present!

Undivided attention is increasingly rare. But being truly present with your loved ones, listening deeply, and engaging with them wholeheartedly creates memorable and meaningful experiences.

Silence your phone, put it away, and avoid checking it frequently. Try to understand things from their perspective. Stay in the moment. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the conversation. Allow conversations to flow naturally. Don’t rush through topics; give them the space and time to develop.

This gift requires no shipping, no wrapping, and is priceless. Just your undivided attention …

Enjoy your time with your loved ones!

PS: The image is a drawing by my daughter.

How to build trust

Say what you mean and mean what you say!

It’s that simple.

Their own way

“A great teacher does not teach you to think like them, but to think without them.”
– Herbie Hancock

The same is true in business … Great leaders don’t create more followers, but more leaders. Just as great artists are not born when they merely replicate what their teachers did, great teams are not created from 10 copies of the leader. (The only thing that might be worse than that would be leaders who babysit each and every decision.)

The most impactful leaders are usually those who light the path, then step aside to let each team member walk it their own way.

They understand that their role isn’t to dominate the decision-making process but to empower their team to make choices confidently.

They don’t impose their way of thinking, but provide the space for the best thoughts to surface, converge, and flourish.

They don’t dictate, but inspire.

Keep lighting the path!

No weaknesses

Pretending to have no weaknesses is a rookie move. In the professional world, we respect businesses that recognize their limits and embrace them.

B.B. King, the famous Blues guitarist, was never going to be the fastest player. He embraced that and became the player who was said to put more music in one note than others could put into a thousand.

In a world that values authenticity, embracing your weaknesses can be your biggest strength.

What’s yours?

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