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Calling all Visionaries

If you’re reading this it’s likely that you have an ambitious roadmap and the dream of changing the game.

Do you sometimes sense a gap, like your team’s just not as fired-up as you hoped? That your grand mission and their day-to-day might be living in two different worlds?

Here’s a gentle reminder: Your team is more than a set of skilled hands. They’re individuals, each with aspirations, ideas, and stories of their own. While your direction is essential, so too is their perspective. While your passion is the initial thrust, their excitement is the sustained momentum. Maybe it’s time to loosen the reins a bit, to see where collective imagination can take you.

You’ve got the end goal in sight, that’s clear. But how about letting them in, not just on the “what,” but also the “why” and the “how”? This isn’t about giving away power; it’s about fostering genuine collaboration. Think dialogue over directive, synergy over solos.

The next time you’re laying out strategies, perhaps invite them to the drawing board, to co-create. Because when everyone feels ownership over the dream? That’s when you’ll see some real magic. Cultivating commitment and passion starts with allowing everyone to contribute to the narrative.

The quiet voice

Never underestimate the impact a quiet, calm voice can have when it asks the right question in a room full of loud voices having only answers.

Mr. Smith and Mrs. Garcia

Each day, as the city awakens, Mr. Smith is already at his startup’s hub. His morning ritual is unwavering — a sharp nod, an exact “Good morning, team”.

His vision for the company is as clear as the glass walls of the conference room. Pitches to investors are slick and precise, strategies streamlined.

There’s admiration in the eyes of his team, not from personal bonds, but from witnessing the laser focus of a founder who knows exactly where he’s steering the ship. The respect for him doesn’t stem from shared laughs but from the undoubted clarity of his vision.

Then there’s Mrs. Garcia. Her startup radiates a different energy from the moment you step in.

Morning huddles aren’t just about updates — they’re spaces where ideas intertwine, challenges are shared, and solutions are co-created.

Her vision, while clear, isn’t rigid. She doesn’t dictate the journey; instead, she lights the path, trusting her team to bring their unique strengths to the table. Pitches to investors feel less like presentations and more like stories, weaving the company’s purpose with real-world impact.

With Mrs. Garcia, there’s a palpable sense of collective ownership.

While both entrepreneurs are bound to leave a mark, the journeys they chart out for their teams vary profoundly.

Entrepreneurship, it seems, isn’t just about launching a venture — it’s about understanding the souls who join you on that journey.

The chaos around us

The tricky thing about distractions is that they don’t always present themselves as such. In many cases, they come disguised as opportunities. A new job offer, a side project, or a shiny new tool can all seem like positive turns to take. Yet, when looked at from the perspective of our core objectives and values, it often becomes evident that these are divergences rather than enhancements.

Add to that the constant ping of social media notifications, the allure of new ideas, or the changing tides of opportunity and responsibility, and it almost feels like the Universe is conspiring to destroy clarity as soon as we arrive at it. A merciless endeavor on the Universe’s part that requires an equally merciless endeavor on our part to maintain focus and alignment with our goals.

Being able to clearly articulate the goals – and ideally, being able to explain them to others – can be an important step in refusing to allow the Universe to divert us from our path.

While we can’t control all that happens around us, we can control our reaction to it. We can decide to say “no” to opportunities when they are not aligned with our objectives or values. And we can strive to stay in control irrespective of the chaos around us.

Waiting for your turn

In many conversations, people tend to focus on their turn. On what they could say next.

As opposed to listening to what the others have to say.

These people just wait for an opportunity to jump in and take over the talking part. Usually speaking about themselves.

In these conversations, it can feel like being in a bad band consisting only of soloists – soloists who, rather than playing together, just happen to play at the same time. Everyone’s concerned with their own solo instead of complementing each other to create a collective masterpiece.

Good conversations are collective masterpieces that lead somewhere – a place we couldn’t reach on our own.

They can only happen when we are willing to truly listen – just like the masterpieces of a great band. World class guitarist Pat Metheny once said that “the best musicians are not the best players, they’re the best listeners.”

Truly listening means more than merely waiting for your turn. It means showing up with interest, empathy, and compassion: Are you willing to look from their perspective, ask questions that dig deeper, and learn something new?

When you’re constantly busy thinking about what you’re going to say next, you won’t have time for any of that.

The art of listening is the foundation upon which the art of communicating is built.

Leaders who light the path are great listeners in that sense. For them, it’s not about who says what. They don’t care for when it’s their turn. Because it’s always the team’s turn.

For them, it’s about unlocking the brilliance of everyone on the team.

Navigating irrational team behavior

Some useful questions to ponder if you feel like the people in your meeting are acting irrationally:

1. To which group does the person want to belong (in this moment)?

The desire to belong is a deeply rooted human need. So strong, in fact, that it can overpower logic and rational decision making. The range of possible groups people want to belong to is vast. People might want to consider themselves as being innovative. Or one of the cool kids. Perhaps they want to belong to the rich. Or consider themselves pragmatic problem solvers who just get sh*t done. Maybe they value loyalty. Or are seeking connection to a group of “friends” … As I said, the list is practically limitless and can be very personal.

2. Who does the person want to be seen by (in this moment)?

Similar but distinct from the previous aspect. It might be related to career or competition. Romance or friendship. It can lead to people remaining silent when you’d expect them to speak up. Or it can lead them to do silly things when that hasn’t been their mode of operation up until this moment. It can lead them to change loyalty or neglect facts. And again, it’s a very personal list that’s not easy to see when we’re not walking in their shoes.

3. With whom is the person negotiating their status (in this moment)?

It’s a useful shortcut to assume that we’re basically negotiating status in any exchange. It leads people to thinking they can’t give in. Or need to please the boss. That they need to fight back or appease the opponent. Establish that they are the senior person. Or the smarter one. Or sometimes simply that they’re the boss.

The bitter truth is that these social dynamics can lead people to act very differently than we would in the same situation, even when looking at the exact same facts. Sometimes, it can be very hard for us to even understand why anyone would be acting that way. And yet, they do.

What’s sometimes hard to swallow is that these human needs can dominate something like logic. When a strong desire like “belonging” (let alone “love”) takes the driver’s seat, logic isn’t the most important thing anymore.

The good news is that you can learn to see these dynamics. Understanding which group a person wants to belong to or how they’re negotiating status allows us to see their behavior in a different light. And when we do we can work with what we see and adapt how we communicate with them.

I see you

When was the last time you said “Thank you!” to someone even though you didn’t have to?

A thank you that’s not only transactional but one that you actually meant.

A thank you that said “I see you”.

I see that what you do cannot be taken for granted.
I see that your job can sometimes be hard.
I see that even on a bad day like this you’ve shown up.
I see that you care although no-one ever says “thank you” to you.

I see this.

I see you.

Sometimes, that’s all a team needs from their leader. And a simple “Thank you!” might be all it takes.

The Art of Listening

Hi,

I’m back from my summer sabbatical.

Let’s start by catching up with some news for my german speaking friends: There’s a new book out which I contributed an article to.

A few weeks ago, my colleague Armin Nagel published a highly insightful take on the art of waiting. It’s called “Schöner Warten” (which roughly translates to “How to make more out of waiting”) and it’s a collection of unexpected perspectives on waiting.

I mean, let’s face it: a huge part of our lives is spent waiting, isn’t it?

We’re waiting for someone to show up. Or for them to leave.

We’re waiting for the green light. Or for someone to stand up and say “stop”.

We’re waiting for a meal.

Or that it’s our turn at the doctor’s.

We’re waiting for the pain to cease. The show to start. The phone to ring.

We’re waiting for him, her, them, or it.

Each and every day.

Why not make the best out of that time, right?

I loved that thought and didn’t hesitate a second when Armin asked me to contribute some of my thoughts to the collection. The piece is called “The Art of Listening”, an art that – as it turns out – can only be truly mastered when we master the art of waiting. If you’re interested, here’s the full text (in german)

There are more than 30 texts like this in the book – each of them looking at waiting from the most unexpected places. If you feel like you could make more out of your waiting time, head over to the book’s website to learn more: https://www.warteberater.de

Summer break

A personal note:
After 830+ posts and 250 podcast episodes, I’m taking a summer sabbatical.

It’s time to take a step back so I can reflect, recharge and refocus.

It’s also time to spend some time with my family, play the guitar, read a few good books, and go to places I didn’t get to see in what feels like some fast-paced three years.

I might occasionally show up on social media, but don’t count on it.

Feel free to reach out, though. If you need urgent help – or even if you just want to say hello or share some stories – get in touch here.

Wishing you a great summertime.

Keep lighting the path!

PS: Posting will presumably resume in September. If you feel like catching up in the meantime, here’s the complete archive of posts.

With and without a title

Leaders don’t need a title and not every leader carries a title.

You become a leader by lighting a path in a way that others can join the path.

Sometimes, that’s the quiet team member who’s done the math.
Sometimes, it’s the loud member who trusts their gut.
Sometimes, it’s the boss.
Other times, it’s not.

“This is where we need to go.”
“This is why we need to go there.”
“This is why it needs to be us.”

These are the questions a leader can put in words.

Who does this for your team?

Spread the Word

Dr. Michael Gerharz

Dr. Michael Gerharz