Author: leadership dots by dr. beth triplett

I'm the chief connector at leadership dots where I serve as "the string" for individuals and organizations. Like stringing pearls together to make a necklace, "being the string" is an intentional way of thinking and behaving – making linkages between things that otherwise appear random or unconnected – whether that be supervising a staff, completing a dissertation or advancing a project in the workplace. I share daily leadership dots on my blog to provide examples of “the string” in action. I use the string philosophy through coaching, consulting and teaching to help others build capacity in themselves and their organizations. I craft analogies and metaphors that help people comprehend complex topics and understand their role in the system. My favorite work involves helping those new to supervision or newly promoted supervisors build confidence and learn the skills necessary to effectively lead their team.

leadership dot #5092: never enough

November 12, 2026November 11, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Whether it’s about politics or a potential change, emotions can run high. Often, people want more information about the situation, and that is reasonable—to a point.

But information does not satisfy emotions. Logic does not overcome emotion. More information leads to more questions, more emotion, and the desire for even more information. Those with good intentions try to supply more detail, but they can only provide answers to the facts when the real issue is emotion.

You can keep doing due diligence and providing information, but always remember there is never enough information to quell emotional arguments. The heart makes decisions with different logic.

leadership dot #5091: mislead

November 11, 2026November 10, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When someone in an influential position speaks, it carries more credence than when others do, and when misinformation is shared by that person, it can sway decisions or opinions based on the inaccurate statements.

Whether intentionally or not, falsehoods or hypothetical questions that impugn the integrity of a process can never be corrected. Sure, a revised message may be issued, but it can never put the genie back in the bottle. The wrong information is given more validity because of who said it, and it seeps out through conversations, social media, or is just retained in the recesses of people’s minds.

If you are unsure of a detail or whether something occurred, especially if you are a leader, it’s best to find out before you speak about it as fact or create doubt. Think twice about what irretrievable information you put into the universe. Better to say nothing than to mislead.

leadership dot #5090: correspond

November 10, 2026November 9, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’ve previously written about several brand extensions that have gone amok. Companies seem to slap their name on any product to make a few extra dollars, no matter whether the relationship makes any sense.

But here’s a good example of how one product can naturally evolve to offer another. Virginia Evans’ (fabulous) best-selling book, The Correspondent, is written as a series of letters to and from the main character, Sybil Van Antwerp. So, what comes next? A correspondence kit, with stationery and seals in the design of the book cover. Bravo!

If you’re thinking of offering something beyond your product or service, have a rational reason for doing so. What is a natural outgrowth or complement that your users would enjoy? What actually corresponds with your core? Sybil would be pleased with this one.

leadership dot #5089: freeing

November 9, 2026November 8, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

While it sounds counterintuitive, most people do better with some constraints than no boundaries.

When students are told to write a paper with no topic or guidelines, choosing a topic becomes as hard as writing the paper itself (just ask anyone who has written a dissertation!)
Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) sounds good, but many employees actually take less time off under this benefit.
If people don’t have defined parameters for their money, it can be uncomfortable to spend it, even when their finances would allow.
If there are no policies or standard procedures at work, the lack of structure can be draining, as more time is spent trying to figure things out rather than embracing the opportunity to innovate.
The nightly conversation about “what do you want for dinner” is harder when the options aren’t narrowed.

In most cases, people do better when there is a defined “fence,” and they are allowed to run freely within it. Too much freedom is not freeing.

leadership dot #5088: frivolous

November 6, 2026November 5, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

While on vacation, these wolves grabbed my attention. I can’t really explain why, but I kept going back to them in the store. They were salt shakers, and I didn’t need another set, but they called out to me. Maybe it was the side-eye on the one wolf?

I had the willpower to resist the boutique price and left them there, but later that day I returned to the store and brought them home. I am so glad that I did! Instead of gracing my kitchen, they sit in my office and still make me smile every day, 18 months later.

One of my friends judged her purchases by this measure: “Will it change my lifestyle?” If the answer was no — as it certainly was in this case — she would buy it without guilt. Sometimes, forgo the next coffee or new shirt in favor of something frivolous that brings you joy.

leadership dot #5087: faded

November 5, 2026November 2, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I used to be a wizard on the Selectric typewriter, and now I would have a hard time manually correcting a document. I used to be an expert in college recruitment, but that knowledge has faded after a decade without using it. I previously presented workshops on promotional ideas for university events, but they would be irrelevant now in this age of social media.

What have you done lately to upgrade your knowledge in an evolving area? Learned more about AI prompts? Read up on the latest legislation moving through the Chamber? Asked your health professional about new vaccines? Attended a conference to strengthen your network and become aware of trends in your industry?

You’ve got a choice: evolution or entropy. Pick one. Your skills don’t last forever.

leadership dot #5086: fence

November 4, 2026November 1, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Whether you’re a new legislator who just earned your job last night, a long-time supervisor, or an individual contributor, you would be wise to heed the lessons of Chesterton’s Fence.

This principle, coined by G. K. Chesterton in 1929, says that a change should not occur until you understand the reason behind it. His premise is that to make a good decision, you must first understand the past decision that led to how things came to be.

His principle is so named because he described it through the parable of a fence — if you came upon a fence across the road, would you automatically tear it down thinking it was just a hindrance to crossing the road, or would you consider the repercussions of doing so and first learn why it was put there initially. Of course, he recommends the latter.

People often jump to the conclusion that something is useless, stupid, a barrier, or no longer necessary, and want to replace it with something new before they understand why it was once considered a good idea. This often leads to unintended consequences and reversals of decisions or practices.

Before becoming enamored with the new, keep Chesterton’s Fence in mind before you make a change. Taking time to learn the past rationale before deciding could save you time and headaches later.

leadership dot #5085: no excuses

November 3, 2026November 1, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The musical Suffs tells the story of several suffragettes fighting for women’s right to vote. At the turn of the century, women were being brutalized, jailed, on hunger strikes, and even died in the fight to pass the Nineteenth Amendment. Alice Paul, one of the movement’s leaders, spent 20 years leading the National Woman’s Party, working to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

TODAY is the day you can make their sacrifices worth it. Posting on social media, venting to others, or even holding up a sign at a rally or two is not enough. It’s all about the vote.

I wrote 5,100 postcards this summer, encouraging voters to cast their ballot on Tuesday, November 3. And now that date is here. If you’re not one of the millions who have already exercised their right, there are no excuses not to cast your ballot today.

leadership dot #5084: fluff

November 2, 2026November 1, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In 1657, philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “I would have written a shorter letter, but did not have the time.”

Many missed his advice, filling their emails, school papers, proposals, grant requests, and other documents with fluff. They seem to believe that if you say more, it will increase its persuasiveness or impressiveness. Not true.

Often, more just hides the main point and buries the important part of the message.

Aim for short and powerful. Writing succinctly may take more effort, but it is also likely to have a greater impact in the end.

leadership dot #5083: enhancements

October 30, 2026October 29, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Sometimes, it’s the simple enhancements that make you smile.

Cheerios is finally going to package its cereal in resealable bags.
The Post Office has developed a new app that tells me when my mail is actually delivered, so I don’t needlessly walk up to the corner.
And a Residence Inn replaced paper “do not disturb” signs with a simple magnet.

You don’t have to make lofty changes to make a difference. Keep improving, even incrementally, to remove annoyances for others.

Thanks, Brian!