Run it like a business
March 5, 2025
You should have just said “run it badly.”
World's Best Newsletter Archive
The heart of it
February 19, 2025
To be worthy of your time, work needs to have dignity, meaning, and impact.
What’s the opposite of mercenary?
December 11, 2024
There is no narrative arc more dystopian than insecure people with power and limited accountability.
I do not think it means what you think it means
November 27, 2024
Attaching the word performance to something doesn’t automatically make it a good idea.
True power lies elsewhere
November 13, 2024
A lot of stuff lives in the “about work and not about work at the same time” bucket. Turns out that organizing humans around complex tasks is messy.
Power-posing in the driver’s seat
October 2, 2024
“Don’t worry, we have a slackbot that does weekly micro-learning prompts on how to use the brakes” is a transparently bad idea.
Lower your expectations
September 4, 2024
We have been to a lot of corporate all-hands, gatherings, conferences, and un-conferences. Some of them have been incredibly well-run. Some of them have been a rolling shit-show.
Okay, call it a come back
August 21, 2024
There is some design work to do if we want to build new connections, and rebuild the ones we miss.
Whose job is it?
February 7, 2024
Folks are quick to say, “I’m not actively looking. I’m happy where I am. I feel lucky to have a job. But…”
If it’s urgent, call my cell
December 27, 2023
We tell bosses that if they choose management as a career, every aspect of the human condition will at some point show up for someone they manage.
What to do with the muchness
November 1, 2023
Either, we’re running as fast as we can toward clear targets. Or we’re running as fast as we can without clear targets.
Thanks but no thanks
September 6, 2023
Sometimes humans really do need a reality check, that’s fair. But if you’re going to reality check someone, we suggest starting with the manager in the mirror.
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