🤸 Hawk’s-eye view, #1 predictor of leadership success, & working joyfully

Hey — it’s Cristina & Jenni.

This week, we’re:

• zooming out to discover where we’re energized in our work 🌌

• learning about the #1 predictor of leadership success 📈

• reflecting on the idea of “working hard” vs. “working joyfully” 🧠

Enjoy!

What we’re reflecting on this week

Imagine a hawk soaring above the landscape, seeing everything from sprawling terrains to the smallest details on the ground. Contrast this with a field mouse, whose world is limited to what's immediately in front of it.

This comparison, shared by a friend recently, beautifully illustrates the importance of perspective, particularly when we think about setting our career goals for next year.

Here’s how my friend broke it down in a recent text conversation:

As we move to 2024, it's crucial to adopt this “hawk’s-eye perspective” in our leadership roles. It’s not just about our own paths - we also have to consider our teams' aspirations.

The starting point?

Understanding what brings joy and fulfillment to both us and our team members.

This understanding is the foundation of your planning for 2024.

Instead of simply setting goals, we can focus on enhancing what we already do well. This approach leads to a work life that's not just successful, but also deeply fulfilling.

We can tap into our strengths and those of our team members, transforming our work into something meaningful and energizing.

Of course, not every part of our job will be thrilling, but it's important to recognize the parts that are.

Rushing into setting goals without this self-reflection can lead us down narrow paths limited by our micro view.

Reflect on this: Which parts of your job light you up? What about your team?

If you're clear on these, great! If not, let's dive into an exercise to uncover these answers...

Introducing the “Good Time Journal.”

This valuable exercise, from “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evan, helps you identify work aspects that truly engage and energize you. Implementing it with your team can contribute to a more fulfilling work environment.

• Engagement = Think about how much an activity pulls you in. Is it something you can't wait to do? Did it make you lose track of time?

• Energy = Does it leave you feeling charged up or drained?

This exercise involves keeping a daily log of your activities and completing a weekly reflection exercise. The authors suggest doing it for at least three weeks for the best insights.

Here's How It Works:

1. Daily Activity Log

Using the table below, write down your daily work activities, and rate your engagement and energy on a scale of 1-5. Broken down with the AEIOU method: Activities, Environment, Interactions, Objects, and Users.

And here’s an example from Bill himself. Since we’re focusing on work, have a look at your calendar and identify key activities like 1:1s, workshops, planning sessions, ad hoc problem-solving time, etc.

2. Weekly Reflections

This table is for your weekly reflections. At the end of each week, you'll review your daily logs and write down key insights, any surprises, and noticeable trends. For energizing activities, think about how to incorporate them more into your role. For draining ones, consider delegation or new approaches to tackling them.

Whether you choose to share this exercise with your team or not, understanding what brings joy to you and your team – and shaping roles to focus more on these areas – will pave the way for a more vibrant, fulfilling, and successful work environment in 2024.

→ Have you thought about what parts of your work energize you? How can you shape your role to include more of these activities, balancing them with the necessary parts?

What we’re learning this week

• 🧵 Thread: Discover the #1 predictor of leadership success – On the topic of energy, CEO coach Eric Partaker reveals the factors that contribute to greater company success.

• ✍️ LI post: What’s your identity stack? – Cristina breaks down how our identities shape our career trajectories supported by research in psychology & neuroscience.

• 🎧 Podcast: The fastest way to take control of your life – In this Diary of a CEO episode, Mel Robbins shares all sorts of tidbits on how to live a happier, less stressful life. We especially enjoyed the “let them” anecdote Mel tells about 40 minutes in (and if you’re a recovering micro-manager, it might be particularly helpful for you!).

What we’re enjoying this week

Sadhguru offers a refreshing reminder that the way we approach work (and study) might not be the best way to go.

That’s it for this week — thanks for reading.

See you next Thursday! 🤸‍♀️