Month: September 2025

leadership dot #4746: complement

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In 1963, Katharine Graham became president (and de facto publisher) of the Washington Post following her husband’s suicide. It was rare to see women in any leadership role, let alone as the head of a major organization. She had no role models but many skeptics, and often questioned her own abilities.

But in 1965, she hired Ben Bradlee as editor, a fearless and seasoned journalist who helped the paper pursue major investigative stories.

It has been said that “he gave her confidence, and she gave him permission.” He helped her overcome doubts, and she gave him the backing that allowed him to be bold. Together, Graham and Bradlee helped the paper become a national force in holding power accountable, including the release of the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate break-in. What a wonderful partnership that truly changed the course of America.

Think about what you need from a partner, and then seek someone whose differences can provide what you need to become your best self.

Source: David Remnick

leadership dot #4745: astute

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One of the most widely prescribed medicines today was made possible, in part, because two observant scientists saw potential in something that most others would have dismissed.

In 1928, Bacteriologist Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find one of his samples had been contaminated by a blue-green mold. He noticed that the bacteria were not growing where the mold was, and named this mold Penicillin.

Fleming did not have the staff or chemistry training to take his experiment further, but in 1940, Howard Florey continued Fleming’s work and was able to grow a limited number of penicillin cultures. Supplies were very limited until a lab assistant saw a cantaloupe in a grocery store that was covered with “a pretty, golden mold,” which yielded 200 times the amount of penicillin previously available.

Penicillin has saved thousands of lives, and it came to be thanks to recognizing the benefits of a contaminated sample and a lab assistant’s melon. Both scientists were curious and astute — being open to answers that came from anywhere, not just where they expected. May you be receptive to seeing the possibilities that present themselves to you.

leadership dot #4744: resist

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Continuing with yesterday’s theme of how our actions are shaped by the need to post, Walmart now offers matching Halloween pajamas for the entire family, even the dog! What possible need is there for these?

A billboard advertising a professional organizer states that many homes have 30,000 items in them. That number escalates because people buy things like Halloween pjs for Fido.

Resist the temptation to go overboard for all the holidays — starting with Halloween. Get the kids costumes, but whatever you’re wearing to bed tonight will do just fine in October.

leadership dot #4743: outdo

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Tailgating will be in full swing this weekend as the football season is underway, and the weather is still comfortable in much of the country. The roots of tailgating date back to Victorian days, when the upper class would put boxes of food and beverages on the back of their carriage and venture out into the countryside or to a sporting event for a picnic. Today, the essence continues, but tents, grills, and fixings have evolved into an elaborate setup and a day-long pastime.

Like so many things, the original purpose of the activity has been lost to commercialization and the perceived need to out-Instagram others. People are paying designers $20,000 to decorate dorm rooms. Senior pictures now rival professional modeling shoots. A cute Jack-o-Lantern on the porch has been replaced with multiple inflatables costing hundreds each.

Before you jump into the winter holidays and run yourself ragged trying to reenact a Martha Stewart home, instead, think of the original tailgaters and embrace the simplicity of a relaxing moment with friends.

Thanks, Meg!

The original tailgating with wooden boxes
Tailgating today

leadership dot #4742: reframe

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A daily challenge from the Shift newsletter encourages readers to play the “Reframe Game” and reword one complaint in their head today as a curiosity, then see what happens.

It’s an intriguing concept, and one that I will put into practice. It came to mind when my neighbor posted a “VOTE NO School Bond” sign in their yard. Leadership Dots readers know that I’m chairing the “YES” effort, so the opposing sign was not a welcome sight. But what if I became curious and had a conversation with them? Why are they against it? Would any other information change their mind? Could I learn something from their answers that would help inform the messaging of our campaign?

The Reframe Game could be applied in many settings, not just political ones. Just for today, take the challenge and become curious about one thing instead of complaining about it. The switch may bring you understanding that you won’t achieve otherwise.

Thanks, Brian!

leadership dot #4741: good catch

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In class, we read a case study about a hospital administrator who developed a program where employees were to report all mistakes so that processes could be improved and others could learn from them. While the intentions were good, the program wasn’t going so well, as people who complied with the initiative were receiving negative feedback from their colleagues and being chastised for reporting.

A student shared a similar program at their company, only instead of it being framed as “mistakes” or an “error report,” the program was called “Good Catch.” Rather than being shunned, employees were rewarded for pointing out errors or flaws in the process and received both recognition and points that could later be redeemed for prizes. Same idea as in the case, only much better execution.

If you’re fishing for candor and compliance, be sure you’re using the right bait (i.e.: language!).

leadership dot #4740: piles

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Formal filing or organizational systems can be overrated. Sometimes, putting things in piles works just as well.

Three examples come to mind:

  • I have piles of articles, media links, and resources that I will use in future classes. Rather than spend the time carefully putting them with materials for the correct week or scanning and uploading them right away, I put them in a stack marked just with the class number. When it comes time to teach that course again, I have a wealth of current information ready to go.
  • Author Dan Pink does a similar thing when preparing to write (or considering) a new book. Over a period of time, he collects relevant resources and research and puts them in a box — only to be sorted and evaluated if the project comes to fruition.
  • I had a client who needed a system that worked for her, and filing things away wasn’t an option, as “out of sight, out of mind.” So, she cleared her credenza and created her own system of piles — allowing her to be organized, prioritized, and have a desk free of distractions.

Fancy folders, typed labels, and hanging tabs may work to keep track of some paperwork, but if it doesn’t fit your style — don’t fight it. Instead of letting paper accumulate until you can “get to” the perfect system, embrace the “pile method” instead and keep yourself organized in a way that works for you.

leadership dot #4739: refocus

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If you heard it was Construction Safety Week, many would assume it was an awareness campaign about improving physical safety on the job. You would be wrong.

Physical injuries and deaths on the jobsite used to be the primary focus of safety initiatives, but significant gains in that area have caused the industry to shift its emphasis to address mental health/safety. Construction workers have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession in the U.S., with workers more than twice as likely to die from suicide compared to the general population. The number of suicides in the industry is five times higher than the lives lost in jobsite safety!

Construction giant Bechtel notes: “Despite all our success in protecting construction workers while they are on the job, a devastatingly high number return to their home, their hotel room, or their residence camp, and end their own life. Construction workers contend with what some have called a perfect storm of mental health risk factors, including a predominantly male workforce, physically strenuous and stressful work, long hours, jobs often located away from home and family, intermittency of work, and, for many, chronic pain.”

In light of this, Bechtel pledged $7 million to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to design programs specifically targeted at construction workers. The industry has ongoing measures to ensure physical safety and has now shifted its focus to a multi-year partnership addressing mental health.

What was important in the past may no longer be a priority today. Ensure your actions are based on evidence, not assumptions.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #4738: pencil drop

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I am fascinated with the Facebook Reels posted by Peters Design Company. Allan Peters shares his creative process as he redesigns existing logos (and almost always makes them much better) and the thinking behind how he designs brand identities for new clients. Rather than just showing the finished product, Peters narrates step-by-step his rationale and color choices, highlighting the intentionality of everything from line width to spacing. For example, he took the new logo for the City of Austin, explained how the blue/green color choices resembled healthcare logos, then proceeded to change the color scheme and font to make it more “Texas.” Mission accomplished!

Because of these videos, if I were looking to do a brand refresh, he would be first on my list to call. Not only do I like the end result, but his posts give me confidence that he could replicate the outcome for another client.

Watch a few of Peters’ Reels and see if you don’t glean ideas for how you could share the magic behind your curtain. Helping people understand how and why you make choices may be as important as your what.

Screenshot of “There is an i in Team”

leadership dot #4737: transfer

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Less than ten percent of the donations we have raised to support the bond referendum have been paid by cash or check. Almost half of our contributions have been paid via Stripe on our website, with the other portion paid through Venmo.

When we conducted the first round of advocacy in 2023, we were slow in accepting electronic donations because of the fees we needed to pay in order to do so. But we came around, as have most vendors today. From Girl Scout cookies to craft shows, to devotional candles in church, to the farm stand selling corn, it seems that you can’t conduct business without a way to process cashless sales. Yes, that convenience comes with a price — usually three percent or so — but what you gain in revenue far outweighs the surcharge.

Studies have shown that the further actual cash is from the transaction, the less real it seems, making people likely to spend more. (You spend more on your credit card than if you had to pull those bills out of your wallet.) Let psychology and convenience work in your favor by creating a cashless path for people to transfer their money to you.