Welcome to the 6th edition of North Star Blueprints! In this weekly newsletter, we embark on a journey of personal and professional growth, offering observations, strategies, and inspiration to help you navigate life’s challenges and reach new heights of success. This edition will provide a summary of the daily insights I posted throughout the week, packed with valuable tips, thought-provoking ideas, and actionable advice designed to empower you on your path to becoming a better leader in your professional and personal life.
March 25: Do People Understand Your Message?
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes
Effective communication is the foundation of any successful endeavour. When we put our thinking into words, it’s crucial to make them as clear and concise as possible – the less room you leave for interpretation, the more likely the outcome will meet your expectations. It’s your responsibility to do everything you can to enhance the understanding and engagement of those who hear your message. Luckily, communication is a two-way street, and very often we have a chance to get live feedback on what we just said. Always double-check with your audience to ensure they grasp the message the way you intended it to be.
Consider this scenario – you just gave some news to your team about shifting priorities, and some next steps that will have to take place. Surely everyone is on the same page now, right? Doesn’t hurt to check… Call out a few individuals by name and ask them directly! This approach removes any hesitations or barriers from individuals having to raise their own hands for questions, it puts the spotlight on them and gives them a chance to seek for clarifications.
This proactive approach signals that everyone’s input and comprehension are valued, encouraging team members to speak up without fear of judgment, while allowing you to resolve misunderstandings before they materialize. It also has the added benefit of opening up the floor for questions and potentially sparking a chain reaction – sometimes all you need is one person to admit they don’t understand to make everyone else comfortable in admitting the same.
March 26: Don’t Underestimate First Hand Experience
I was listening to an interview with Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, where he was talking about him having lived through two mergers earlier in his career, directly experiencing the complexities of being acquired and the effects it had on the people, culture, and work. This firsthand knowledge proved instrumental later, when he successfully convinced Steve Jobs of the Pixar acquisition. He could talk credibly not only about the cold hard numbers and mechanisms involved, but also about the human element that was needed to make it successful.
Firsthand experience is a priceless asset that can’t be overstated. Think about it: when you personally navigate the twists and turns of a particular situation, you gain a level of insight and understanding that simply can’t be replicated through textbooks or secondhand accounts. These experiences often don’t look like opportunities at all, many times they might even look like setbacks or demotions, but they all have lessons to teach us.
Whether it’s in negotiations, decision-making, strategic planning, or future problem solving, the insights gained from personal experiences are invaluable gems that can set you apart. Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow firsthand. After all, the challenges of today might just become the wisdom you need tomorrow.
March 27: Don’t Let Your Team Burn Out
As a leader, navigating the delicate balance between productivity and fatigue within your team should be top priority. Recognizing the signs of burnout and understanding when to push your team forward and when to allow them to rest is essential for long-term success, and a critical skill you must master.
Prioritizing tasks becomes a strategic art form. While some projects may be urgent and require immediate attention, others can afford to be delayed to ensure that your team’s mental well-being remains intact. After all, pushing relentlessly towards every deadline without regard for your team’s energy levels is a recipe for disaster.
How do you begin to accomplish this? stay attuned to your team’s mental energy. Regular check-ins and open communication channels allow you to gauge their workload and stress levels accurately. By fostering a culture that prioritizes self-care and work-life balance, you not only prevent them from burning out, but also cultivate a more cohesive, resilient, and high-performing team. A team that is willing to take care of your objectives, because you take care of them.
Remember, your team’s well-being is the cornerstone of your success as a leader. By understanding when to push and when to pause, you can steer your team towards sustainable productivity and success.
March 28: Mission Debrief
Realize that life is not just about celebrating successes but also about embracing failures as opportunities for growth. Very often I see the same mistakes repeated again and again, often in the same environments and circumstances, largely by the same teams. The reason? Lack of reflection.
We always rush from one project to another, give our very best to complete every task that comes our way. Naturally, mistakes happen and they get promptly fixed. Sometimes major errors occur and they too are patched eventually. Unfortunately, by running from fire to fire, by constantly expanding our scope of operation, and relentlessly chasing the next big idea, we forgot to sit down and understand why things went wrong in the first place, and how they can be avoided in the future.
That’s where “Mission Debrief” comes into play – a simple gathering of all individuals involved, to look back and review what went right, what went wrong, and what could be improved in the future, encouraging all team members to provide honest feedback. It’s not about assigning blame, it’s not about listing out action items that never see daylight, and it’s not about going through the motions of a retrospective meeting, the intent is to uncover weak spots and find solutions for them such that they don’t resurface again, and if they do, there is now a protocol on how to deal with them. If you are a leader reading this, please make sure to set up a dedicated day after a project ends to conduct Mission Debrief.
If you are a team member, lead by example and begin compiling a list of issues you’ve seen on your engagement, share it with your leaders, and encourage them to set up time for the broader group to share their feedback as well.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
March 29: It’s Not Always About You
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit” ― Harry Truman
As leaders, our primary role is to elevate and empower our teams, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Sharing credit isn’t just a nicety — it’s a cornerstone of effective leadership. When we recognize and celebrate the contributions of our team members, we not only cultivate a culture of appreciation but also inspire greater engagement and motivation.
It’s essential to understand that the success of a project or task reflects not just on individual achievements, but on the collective efforts of the team. Taking credit for their work diminishes the value of their contributions and undermines the spirit of collaboration.
Instead, champion your teams, amplify their successes, and acknowledge their hard work. By doing so, you not only build a culture of trust and respect but also lay the foundation for sustained success. After all, true leadership isn’t about basking in the spotlight — it’s about allowing others to shine.
A study performed by Great Places To Work, surveying 1.7 million employee responses, proves that recognition is the most important driver of great work and one of the best (and easiest) ways to retain top talent. Something to consider next time you have a chance to recognize your team, coworkers, or even your own leaders.
And if at any moment you feel like your hard work is not visible, don’t worry. A team that constantly succeeds in achieving its goals tends to have strong leadership. Your team’s hard work will automatically reflect positively on you and your leadership skills. That will be your chance to gain recognition.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of growth and discovery. I hope these insights illuminate your path forward as you pursue your aspirations with purpose and determination. See you in next week’s edition!
