Hot Topic Friday: Sept. 11

Happy Friday! Here are our Sept. 11 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Announcement!: Building Extraordinary and Adaptive Cultures Course Available Now!

Hot Topic 1: What Will You Be Like 10 or 20 Years From Now?

Source: Harvard Business Review, Benjamin Hardy.

What It’s About: What were you like as a 21 year old? What are you like now? Hardy writes one of the most interesting articles I’ve read relative to our personal development. He references published research that spans more than 60 years to demonstrate how personalities change over time. Almost all participants were completely different than they had been 60 years prior. Whether intentional or not, we change.

So What?: I find this insight very affirming and inspiring. At 21, I was going to be a physical education teacher, and maybe one day a school principal. I have, as one might expect, many of the same attributes as then, while having changed dramatically in so many ways. None of us are going to be the same person as time flows forward. So why not be intentional about that evolving you? How might we do that?

Now What?: Here is what Hardy suggests: “Start by acknowledging the differences between your past, current, and future selves. Next, imagine your desired future self: Set goals that are as clear and specific as possible to maximize your chances of achieving them. Finally, develop (and re-develop) an identity narrative consistent with the person you want to become — and share that story with others! Your identity drives your behavior, which over time creates your personality. So start acting like the best version of yourself, and you will become that person.”

For a little more inspiration watch the TED Talk “The Psychology of Your Future Self,” by Harvard psychologist Dr. Daniel Gilbert.

One Millennial Response: This couldn’t be more true. We change. Things change. I bought a “Cheers Y’all” Christmas card in Dec. 2019 from my local Texan grocery store, and the mass produced, printed inscription inside said something like “Here’s to a happy and healthy 2020.” l guess the manufacturer wasn’t from Wuhan. We don’t have a darn clue what we’ll be like in 10, 20, or maybe even two years. However, we can be sure that there will be changes.

Hot Topic 2: How Expensive Is It To Be Yourself?

Source: Forbes, Timothy Clark.

What It’s About: As a psychologist, Clark asks the following question: “Is it expensive to be yourself?” Psychological safety means it’s NOT expensive to be yourself — not socially, emotionally, politically, or economically. Clark states that psychological safety means you feel four things:

Included.
Safe to learn.
Safe to contribute.
Safe to challenge the status quo.

Most of the psychological safety research and work includes a combination of the above. And as most of our followers know, Harvard’s Amy Edmonson is one of the thought leaders in this arena.

So What?: Answer the following from Clark’s article:

“Have you felt excluded in a social setting?

Have you been afraid to ask a question?

Have you remained silent when you knew the answer to a problem?

Have you had someone else steal credit for something you did?

Have you given a suggestion that was ignored?

Have you been rudely interrupted in a meeting?

Have you felt that you were the target of a negative stereotype?

Have you faced retaliation for challenging the status quo?

Have you had a boss who asked for feedback but didn’t really want it?

Have you been publicly shamed or made fun of?

Have you been punished for making an honest mistake?

Have you been made to feel inferior?”

All of us have experienced some, or all of these at one time or another. However, if we answer yes to most of these in a current environment, work or otherwise, we are paying a very big price! It may be too expensive just to be ourselves.

Now What?: Psychological safety may be trendy. It is not going away. It is too important of a topic. What I think is too expensive is when people cannot be themselves. The cost of people holding back might be the most painful and costly part of the income statement. C-Suite people and CFOs just can’t see it, or understand how to account for it. If you’re a leader, there is much content and many resources on how to create conditions for greater psychological safety. Work at it.

P.S. This is a key part and offering of our new company, called Belongify. Coming soon. Watch for it.

One Millennial View: When did people stop being priceless? It’s too expensive to not be ourselves, because while I guess we can put a monetary value on our expertise and experience, the value of being our true selves doesn’t have a limit. Don’t let yourself get tricked into giving it away.

My Weekly Wine Recommendation.

La Linda Malbec 2018

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And finally! Here’s Cecil’s Bleat of the Week!

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“Success isn’t that difficult; it merely involves taking twenty steps in a singular direction. Most people take one step in twenty directions.” - Benjamin Hardy.

Bye for now!

— Lorne and Garrett Rubis

Incase you Missed It:

My latest Lead In podcast.

My latest blog.

Season 3 of Culture Cast.

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Happy Friday! Here are our Sept. 11 Hot Topics and how they relate to advancing culture or leadership.

Hot Topic 1: What Will You Be Like 10 or 20 Years From Now?

Source: Harvard Business Review, Benjamin Hardy.

Hot Topic 2: How Expensive Is It To Be Yourself?

Source: Forbes, Timothy Clark.

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