Tuesday Dispatch: Issue #93
The Owl and The Beetle
I recently curated a “Deep Dive” on Refind, a collection of 10 articles on becoming a better manager. I highly recommend that managers, leaders, and everyone in between take a look.
This week we learn about bad feedback, diverse team, and short meetings. As well as Academy Awards and AI-generated stories.
Let's get going!
3 Droplets of Leadership
When Your Boss Gives You Bad Feedback, Badly
It can be challenging to manage one's emotions when receiving feedback perceived as overly harsh, overly nice, or insincere. All of us struggle with feedback, so it is essential to be understanding and forgiving of oneself for having strong reactions and the other person for initiating a difficult conversation.
This article outlines the three most common ways feedback is delivered in a damaging manner, as well as five key steps to take when receiving poorly delivered feedback.
Don't miss it!
I recently wrote about how to deal with bad feedback:
Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter
A 2015 McKinsey report on 366 public companies found that those in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity in management were 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean. Additionally, those in the top quartile for gender diversity were 15% more likely to have returns above the industry mean.
A Credit Suisse global analysis of 2,400 companies revealed that organizations with at least one female board member exhibited higher return on equity and net income growth than those without female representation.
To maximize the collective intellectual potential of the organization, it is essential to diversify the employee pool with representatives of different genders, races, and nationalities. This will help to keep team members' biases in check and encourage them to challenge their assumptions. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that the organization has inclusive practices so that all voices can be heard. By doing so, teams can become more innovative, and the organization can become more successful in achieving its goals.
This is a great article you should not miss.
How to Make Meetings Shorter
As the meeting scheduler, it is recommended to avoid scheduling one-hour or 45-minute meetings unless they are essential or involve multiple teams providing updates. Consider whether the objectives can be achieved in 30 or even 15 minutes. It is essential to be mindful of the time allocated in the calendar.
You can become an office hero by assisting your colleagues in reclaiming their time. Be mindful and ensure that lengthy, inefficient meetings do not become the standard.
Check out this article on holding shorter meetings.
I recently wrote about meetings and how to keep people engaged:
2 Grains of Technology
A Curated History of the Oscars
This multimedia timeline provides an insightful look into the illustrious and intricate history of the Academy Awards, featuring a curated selection of wins and losses, complemented by archival photography and video. Evidently, the ceremony is deeply intertwined with American history, and this timeline demonstrates this connection. Check it out!
Storybird
Create personalized stories using AI. Check it out!
1 Atom of Reflection
This commencement speech by JB Pritzker's at Northwestern University starts with a quote from 'The Office' and then evolves about idiocy and cruelty. It's a great piece, don't miss it!