Frank Aff’s Post

Sometimes, good leadership means someone else may be the best choice to lead... I recently met a friend and colleague, Frank Aff, for a smoothie. We sat outside to enjoy the spring sun as we chatted. We then noticed something unusual occurring on the sidewalk near us. A man was helping a woman who appeared to have fallen from her walker, which was nearby. However, we soon realized the woman wasn't getting up and walked over to the man to ask if he needed help. He did, and we discovered the woman was not responsive. Moreover, he didn't know the woman, as I had incorrectly assumed. A call was placed to 911 (nice job, Frank!) and the dispatcher on the line directed for chest compressions until help could arrive. Fortunately, a fourth man who had arrived on the scene had just completed a First Aid/CPR course just a few days prior! He administered the compressions, and first responders appeared shortly to take over. As leaders, we naturally want to lead. Take charge in a situation and be the person out front. But we're not always the best option to do so. Although I'm confident either Frank or I would have performed CPR if needed, unquestionably the best man for the job was the one who had been recently trained to do so. For us to insist otherwise would have been foolish. Of course, most decisions we make do not have potentially life or death ramifications. This experience serves as a powerful reminder to consider our choices when making certain kinds of decisions. Sometimes, you are the top option to lead a project or assignment. And sometimes, someone else is the best choice. For those times when it's another person, step gracefully (or quickly!) aside and make room for that individual to go to work. #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipfirst #careers #careerdevelopment #business #principals #careerstrategy

As the person with the most power in the room, what can you do to create psychological safety? Timothy R. Clark's article about this was published in HBR a year ago today. Link in comments. He offers 10 ways to do this: 1. Assign someone else to conduct the meeting. 2. Don’t sit at the head of the table. 3. Create warmth and informality. 4. Model acts of vulnerability. 5. Stimulate inquiry before advocacy. 6. Reward challenges to the status quo. 7. Push back with humor and enthusiasm. 8. Buffer strong personalities. 9. Listen and pause. 10. Give highly targeted praise and recognition. Which ones have you seen be most effective?

Tara Robertson, CPCC, ACC reminds us of this important article by Timothy R. Clark and distills down the steps for the person with the most power in the room. Decentralizing power and privilege like this can create psychological safety for all, and these are concrete steps that can help you achieve this in a space. Personally, I lean into creating a sense of warmth and informality, buffering strong personalities, and role modelling vulnerability; I think these three actions show that no one knows everything, and that we are all here to learn and grow in the conversation, not to perform for or compete with each other. I link vulnerability to Humility and Courage, which I think are two of the most important traditional teachings that we can emulate from Indigenous leadership models. #privilege #power #decolonize #indigenize #leadershipdevelopment #psychologicalsafety #edi #dei #diversity #equity #inclusion https://lnkd.in/dabwUamM

Great tips! #psychologicalsafety

A short 3 minute watch for us to know that the #contribution of the #employee is a function of the #workplaceenvironment (read #culture). because here he cites the example of one person #thriving at a workplace and just #surviving in the other. Great share Priya Bhatnagar!

What leadership skills can you practice on a normal day with sick young children at home? Who says it’s hard to be both a mother and a leader? Fall is definitely here, with crisp colors, fresh air, and cozy blankets. However, it’s also the time when all kinds of infections knock on the door—especially if you have small children. Last week, I had the whole crew at home for a few days, and I couldn’t help but think about how much leadership training you receive during a day like this. Here are some reflections on just a few of the skills you can practice on days like these: - When we’re not feeling well, it’s easy to feel vulnerable and more irritable than usual. This is certainly true for children. Even before we’ve had a chance to eat breakfast, I found myself in a masterclass on conflict resolution—navigating the “I deserve it,” “he/she is disturbing me,” and the classic “I had it first.” If you’re not actively managing their conflicts, you’re stepping into the role of mediator, supporting constructive ways to handle disputes. - There’s no better teacher for practicing empathy than a three-year-old. Within 10 minutes, they can experience a whirlwind of emotions (and corresponding behaviors) that you need to validate and accept. When you show them how to express empathy, you become the best role model they could have. - And let’s not forget about time management! You have a maximum of one hour to complete a task that would usually take you three. This isn’t a one-time occurrence; you constantly have less time than you planned. “Work smart, not hard” is definitely the right approach here.   If you find yourself with a spare two minutes at the end of a sick day, take a moment to reflect: - What went well today? - What didn’t? - What did I learn about myself? What’s your favorite management skill that you practice as a mother?   #BeyourhealthLeadClub #Wellbeing #Health #leadership #professionaldevelopment #personaldevelopment #membershipclub

I appreciate this book so much. Lots of research about the importance of psychological safety in the workplace but not as much on how to get there.

Just finished Setting Up Psychological Safety in One-on-One Meetings! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/df_sBswD #conductingmeetings #psychologicalsafety

What exactly is “psychological safety,"—and what happens when it’s missing in a work environment? In this post, I share ways you can use your influence to promote a culture of psychological safety, and what to do if those efforts fail. #careersuccess #phychologicalsafety #leadership

Who are the great Management head? they are who: They build trust, not give it. They listen but do not order. They lead by example, not threats. #employeeengagement #respectatwork #productivitytips #administration #professionalism #workplaceculture #careergrowth #responsibility #leadershipdevelopment #workenvironment #performancetesting #employeerecognition #postivity #positivemindset #movement #healthyrelationships #goals #humannature #honesty #newsspread #comunity #positivity #positiveattitude #positiveworkenvironment #selfconfidence